RECOLLECTIONS  OF 
MEN  AND  HORSES 


HAMILTON 
BUSBEY 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF 
THE  UNIVERSITY 

OF  CALIFORNIA 


RECOLLECTIONS   OF   MEN  AND   HORSES 


Photo  by  Harry  L.  Brown 


RECOLLECTIONS 

OF 

MEN  AND  HORSES 


BY 

HAMILTON  BUSBEY 

It 

AUTHOR  OF  "THE  TROTTING  AND  THE  PACING 
HORSE  IN  AMERICA,"  "  HISTORY  OF  THE 

HORSE   IN   AMERICA,"    ETC. 


PROFUSELY  ILLUSTRATED 


NEW  YORK: 

DODD,  MEAD  AND  COMPANY 
1907 


COPYRIGHT,  1907,  BY 
HAMILTON    BUSBEY 

Published  March,  1907 


GIFT 


PREFACE 

AT  the  close  of  1904  Hon.  James  Wilson,  Secretary 
of  Agriculture,  reported  that  the  value  of  farm 
products  in  the  United  States  for  that  year  was 
$4,900,000,000 — nearly  double  the  gross  earnings  of 
the  railroads  added  to  the  value  of  the  production 
of  all  the  mines  of  the  country  for  the  same  period. 
This  official  statement  opened  the  eyes  of  feverish 
municipalities  to  the  importance  of  agricultural  life. 
The  value  of  horses  owned  by  farmers  is  placed  at 
$1,150,000,000.  In  1905  horses  increased  in  num- 
ber to  17,000,000,  and  in  value  to  $1,200,000,000. 
The  type  of  the  farm  horse  has  been  elevated  by  the 
dissemination  of  blood,  the  virtue  of  which  was 
proved  by  the  sharpest  of  physical  tests.  For  genera- 
tions the  progressive  farmer  has  striven  to  excel  in 
the  creation  of  an  animal  combining  activity  with 
strength,  and  his  trial  ground  has  been  the  road  and 
oval  at  the  County  or  District  Fair.  He  has  labored 
unceasingly  to  eliminate  the  running  gait,  and  to 
establish  the  trotting  gait.  The  harness  horse,  not 
the  saddle  horse,  has  been  his  hope  and  pride.  It  is 
only  in  the  large  city,  where  speculation,  mildly  speak- 
ing, borders  on  the  hysterical,  that  the  running  horse 
is  a  popular  favorite.  The  farmers,  who  dominate 
the  national  life,  gather  at  the  tracks  of  smaller 


213 


PREFACE 

centers  of  activity  to  gratify  a  desire  for  excitement 
and  to  enlarge  the  human  understanding  by  watching 
the  distribution  of  prizes  among  trotters  and  pacers. 
The  tracks  on  which  the  light  harness  horse  per- 
forms are  counted  by  the  thousand,  and  the  results 
of  races  on  which  comparatively  little  money  is  risked 
have  shown  the  way  to  a  standard  of  excellence.    In 
1906  speculation  was  restricted  or  prohibited  in  some 
localities,  but  as  a  rule  the  meetings  were  never  so 
largely  attended  or  the  races  more  earnestly  con- 
tested, thus  demonstrating  beyond  cavil  the  strong 
hold  of  trotting  on  the  public  at  large.     In  "  The 
Trotting  and  the  Pacing  Horse  in  America,"  pub- 
lished in  July,  1904,  I  have  given  a  compact  history 
of  harness  speed  evolution,  and  the  reader  is  referred 
to  it  for  a  grouping  of  foundation  families.    In  these 
pages  I  have  enlarged  upon  the  subject,  and  given 
personal  recollections  of  the  men,  as  well  as  horses, 
who  played  conspicuous  parts  in  the  formative  era 
of  breeds  and  track  discipline.     Millions  of  people 
are  deeply  interested  in  the  question,   and  I  have 
endeavored  to  discuss  it  from  a  high  standpoint  and 
to  reflect  the  truth  as  revealed  by  thousands  of  let- 
ters, many  of  which,  in  being  kept  so  long  from  the 
public  eye,  show  the  ravages  of  time.    At  the  urgent 
request  of  George  B.   Raymond,   I  undertook  this 
task,  and,  when  I  grew  weary  of  it,  was  encouraged 
to  go  on  by  one  in  whose  judgment  I  had  confidence, 
whose  loyalty  was  sincere,  whose  sympathy  was  re- 
sponsive, whose  religion  was  to  speak  kindly  of  those 

vi 


PREFACE 

with  whom  she  was  brought  in  contact,  and  upon 
whose  face  the  eternal  shadow  fell,  even  while  the 
wonderful  sunshine  of  Colorado  was  flooding  the 
landscape  with  a  glory  which  rivaled  in  poetic  con- 
ception that  of  the  throne  upon  which  Wisdom  sits 
and  reads  as  a  child  does  its  "ABC"  the  profound 
Mystery  which  so  staggers  intellects  not  freed  by 
Faith  as  to  cause  them  to  take  refuge  in  "I  do  not 
Know." 

HAMILTON  BUSBEY. 

NEW  YORK,  March,  1907. 


vn 


CONTENTS 

CHAPTER  J>AGfi 

I.  THE  CORNER  STONE  OF  BREEDING      ?  i 

II.  GENERAL  GRANT  AS  A  LOVER  OF  HORSES  7 

III.  ROBERT  BONNER  ON  SHOEING      ,,      ,  *  14 

IV.  WILLIAM     H.     VANDERBILT     SELLS 

MAUD  S.       .         .         .         .         .  26 

V.  THE  STRUGGLE  TO  HOLD  THE  THRONE  39 

VI.  JAY-EYE-SEE  AND  SOME  MATCH  RACES  44 

VII.  EDWIN  THORNE  AND  MAMBRINO  CHIEF  52 

VIII.  CHARLES  BACKMAN  AND  STONY  FORD  64 

IX.  LELAND  STANFORD  AND  PALO  ALTO     .  79 

X.  WOODBURN   FARM — ALEXANDER  BROD- 

HEAD    ......  94 

XL  THE     TRANSYLVANIA  —  CORNING  — 

HAVEMEYER            .         .         .,        ,  113 

XII.  C.  J.  HAMLIN  AND  VILLAGE  FARM       .  118 

XIII.  HAMLIN  AND  SPEED  DEVELOPMENT     .  126 

XIV.  HENRY  C.  MCDOWELL  AND  ASHLAND  148 
XV.  DOUBLE  HARNESS  RIVALRY          .         .  161 

XVI.  HORSE    SHOWS    AND    THEIR    CONTRO- 
VERSIES         .         .         .         .         .174 

XVII.  R.   S.  VEECH  AND  INDIAN  HILL         .  183 
XVIII.  E.      H.      HARRIMAN      AND     OTHER 

BREEDERS 188 

XIX.  WILLIAM  EDWARDS  AND  DISCIPLINE     .  197 

XX.    S.   S.   HOWLAND  AS  A  BREEDER      .             .  2OI 

XXI.  SIMMONS,  STONER,  AND  THAYER         .  207 
ix 


CONTENTS 

CHAPTER  PAGE 

XXII.  MARSHLAND  AND  SHULTSHURST          .  217 

XXIII.  WALNUT  HALL  AND  CRUICKSTON  PARK  229 

XXIV.  THE  HORSE  OF  CONQUEST  AND  CERE- 

MONY   .                  .                  .         .  240 
XXV.  MARCUS  DALY  AND  BITTER  ROOT  FARM  246 
XXVI.  THE  TROTTING  HORSE  IN  TENNESSEE  255 
XXVII.  HARRISON  DURKEE  AND  RICHARD  WEST  265 
XXVIII.  J.  MALCOLM  FORBES  AND  FORBES  FARM  271 
XXIX.  BREEDING  FARMS  IN  THE   BERKSHIRES  280 
XXX.  HENRY  N.  SMITH  AND  OTHER  BREEDERS  291 
XXXI.  EVOLUTION — ENVIRONMENT    AND    NU- 
TRITION        .....  296 
XXXII.  MCFERRAN,  WITHERS,  AND  WILSON     .  303 

XXXIII.  JEWETT  FARM 311 

XXXIV.  SOME  OLD  ORANGE  COUNTY  BREEDERS  316 
XXXV.  STOUT,  WILLIAMS,  CATON           .         .319 

XXXVI.  EAST  VIEW  AND  OTHER  FARMS  .         .  326 

XXXVII.  A  COSTLY  DINNER  IN  A  STABLE.         .  330 

XXXVIII.  THE  EDUCATION  OF  THE  YOUNG         .  333 

XXXIX.  FIRST  AID  IN  DISEASE  AND  LAMENESS  340 

XL.  FOUNDATION  SIRES     ....  352 

BREEDING  STATISTICS  ....  354 


ILLUSTRATIONS 

DARE  DEVIL  (Owned  by  Thomas  W.  Lawson),  Cover  inlay 
HAMILTON  BUSBEY  .  .  .  .  Frontispiece 

FACING  PAGE 

Lou  DILLON  (Owned  by  C.  K.  G.  Billings)      .          .         4 
ROBERT  BONNER  .         .         .         .         .         .20 

JAY-EYE-SEE  IN  1906  (Twenty-eight  Years  Old)  .  46 
THE  MANSION  AT  STONY  FORD  .  .  .  .66 

CARLL  S.  BURR,  JR .74 

JOHN  W.  COULEY       .         .         .         .  .88 

LUCAS  BRODHEAD        .         .         .  ,         .102 

HARRIETTA  (Owned  by  H.  O.  Havemeyer)  .  .  114 
GEORGE  B.  RAYMOND  .  .  .  .  .128 
ETHELWYN,  THE  GREAT  PRODUCING  DAUGHTER 

OF  HAROLD          .         .         .         .         .  136 

HENRY  C.  MCDOWELL 150 

ASHLAND,  THE  FORMER  HOME  OF  HENRY  CLAY        .     158 
JOHN    SHEPARD          ......     168 

E.  T.  BEDFORD  DRIVING  ALICE  M APES     .         .         .170 

A.  J.  CASSATT 176 

W.  M.  V.  HOFFMAN 180 

CORNELIUS  FELLOWS 182 

AUSTRAL  (Owned  by  J.  Howard  Ford,  Stony  Ford)  190 
H.  M.  WHITEHEAD  .  .  .  ...  198 

JOHN  E.  THAYER 212 

BENJAMIN  F.  TRACY  .  218 


ILLUSTRATIONS 

FACING  PAGE 

MOKO    (Owned  by   L.    V.   Harkness,    Walnut  Hall 

Farm) 230 

ORO  WILKES  (Owned  by  Miss  K.  L.  Wilks,  Cruicks- 

ton  Park) 234 

WALNUT  HALL  (Owned  by  L.  V.  Harkness)         .  242 

WILLIAM  RUSSELL  ALLEN 272 

J.  MALCOLM  FORBES    ......  276 

BELLINI  (Owned  by  W.  B.  Dickerman)          .          .  300 

KENTUCKY  TODD  (Owned  by  Miss  K.  L.  Wilks)      .  308 

SILIKO  (Owned  by  John  E.  Madden)      .          .          .  320 
A  GROUP  AT  EAST  VIEW  FARM     .         .         .         .326 

J.   M.  JOHNSON 328 


XII 


CHAPTER  I 

THE  CORNER  STONE  OF  BREEDING 

AFTER  a  formal  dinner  on  New  Year's  Eve  the 
guests  adjourned  to  the  library  and  were  spinning 
yarns  over  cigars.  The  host,  reclining  in  a  big  arm- 
chair, was  absorbed  in  thought,  but  roused  himself 
and  said: 

"  Gentlemen,  you  saw  Flora  this  afternoon  and 
noticed  that  she  was  big  with  promise.  She  is  my 
best  brood  mare,  and  I  have  nominated  her  in  the 
Produce  Stake,  colts  to  trot  at  two  and  three  years 
old.  As  you  well  know  the  age  of  a  horse  dates  from 
January  ist,  and  I  have  planned  to  have  the  foal 
come  the  second  or  third  day  of  the  New  Year. 
Everything  is  going  smoothly,  and,  if  there  is  no  slip, 
the  foal  will  be  well  grown  as  a  yearling,  and  should 
be  fleet  and  strong  as  a  two-year-old.  The  way  to 
win  rich  stakes  is  to  have  early  foals.  The  one  that 
is  born  May  2d,  when  opposed  by  one  born  January 
2d,  takes  up  a  handicap  of  four  months.  The  start 
on  the  road  to  development  will  beat  him  if  nothing 
else  does." 

"  I  agree  with  you,"  remarked  one  of  the  guests, 
"  but  do  you  not  risk  a  great  deal  in  drawing  it  so 
fine  ?  Suppose  the  foal  should  come  before  the  clock 
strikes  twelve  to-night?  " 

i 


:  RECOLLECTIONS    OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

"  Good  gracious,  why  do  you  make  such  a  sugges- 
tion! You  give  me  the  cold  shivers.  If  the  birth 
should  be  premature,  good-by  to  all  of  my  fond 
hopes." 

The  host  looked  so  serious  that  other  guests  ridi- 
culed the  idea  that  anything  at  this  late  hour  could 
go  wrong.  At  eleven  o'clock,  when  the  "  Good  old 
mountain  dew  "  chorus  was  filling  the  room  and  the 
echoes  were  rising  through  the  frosty  air  to  greet 
the  stars,  the  foreman,  lantern  in  hand,  stood  in  the 
big  hall,  and  replied  to  the  hurried  question  of  the 
host,  if  anything  had  gone  wrong,  that  the  noise  of 
toy  cannons  in  the  village  had  so  greatly  upset  Flora 
as  to  bring  on  labor  pains.  The  newborn  at  that 
very  moment  was  lying  on  a  bed  of  straw  in  the  big 
box  stall.  The  cloud  of  disappointment  on  the 
face  of  the  host  was  so  unmistakable  that  one  of  the 
merrymakers  remarked:  "Why  keep  count  of  an 
hour?  If  your  foreman  had  not  come  to  us  with  his 
tale  of  woe,  we  should  not  have  discovered  the  foal 
until  morning,  and  then  the  record  would  have  been 
born  January  ist." 

"  Such  false  records  may  be  made,  under  strong 
temptation  on  some  farms,  but  never  on  this.  Deep 
as  my  disappointment  is,  the  colt,  when  the  clock 
strikes  twelve,  will  be,  under  the  racing  rule,  a  year- 
ling instead  of  a  suckling.  I  played  to  reduce  the 
handicap  and  have  made  the  weight  crushing.  Well, 
it  is  a  chance  I  took,  and  I  must  abide  by  the  result. 
Gentlemen,  once  more  the  chorus!  " 


THE   CORNER   STONE   OF   BREEDING 

Premature  birth  has  marked  the  greatest  epochs 
in  history.  When  Joseph,  the  carpenter  of  the  vil- 
lage of  Nazareth,  was  driven  with  Mary,  his  wife, 
by  an  edict  of  Augustus,  to  a  weary  journey  on  foot 
to  Bethlehem,  and  the  humble  pair  arrived  at  the 
inn  and  found  it  so  crowded  with  strangers  that 
they  had  to  clear  a  corner  in  the  inn  yard  for  a 
lodging  place,  anxiety  and  fatigue  hastened  the  birth 
of  the  Child.  "  I  never  felt  the  full  pathos  of  the 
scene,"  writes  James  Stalker,  "  till,  standing  one  day 
in  a  room  of  an  old  inn  in  the  market  town  of 
Eisleben,  in  central  Germany,  I  was  told  that  on 
that  very  spot,  four  centuries  ago,  amidst  the  noise 
of  a  market  day  and  the  bustle  of  a  public  house,  the 
wife  of  a  poor  miner,  Hans  Luther,  who  happened 
to  be  there  on  business,  being  surprised  like  Mary, 
with  sudden  distress,  brought  forth  in  sorrow  and 
poverty  the  child  who  was  to  become  Martin  Luther, 
the  hero  of  the  Reformation  and  the  maker  of  mod- 
ern Europe." 

Flora's  foal  was  not  able  to  compete  in  the  two- 
year-old  division  of  the  Produce  Stake,  owing  to  the 
noisy  celebration  of  village  lads,  but  in  escaping 
early  training,  the  vitality  of  the  colt  was  pre- 
served for  tasks  in  other  fields,  and,  as  a  progenitor 
of  speed,  he  obtained  renown  and  enriched  the 
world. 

Integrity  is  the  corner  stone  of  the  breeding  struc- 
ture. The  business  transactions  of  a  well-conducted 
stock  farm  are  as  free  from  deception  as  the  trans- 

3 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

actions  of  any  business  of  good  repute.  The  accu- 
racy of  pedigree  is  guaranteed  by  the  strictly  enforced 
rules  of  registration,  and  the  correctness  of  time 
records  is  fostered  by  the  far-reaching  machinery 
governing  track  contests.  Through  vigilance  that  is 
sleepless  and  through  discipline  that  is  unbending, 
type  has  been  elevated  and  the  speed  standard  ad- 
vanced. Nowhere  are  the  fruits  of  Law  more  appar- 
ent than  in  the  breeding  industry. 

At  the  close  of  the  trotting  season  of  1903  Lou 
Dillon  had  a  record  of  1.58^,  and  Major  Delmar 
a  record  of  1.59!,  with  pacemaker  and  shield  in 
front.  The  court  of  last  resort  placed  the  shield 
performances  in  a  class  by  themselves,  and  in  1904 
there  was  a  general  return  to  unpaced  records.  The 
earnest  rivalry  was  still  between  Lou  Dillon  and 
Major  Delmar,  and  at  the  close  of  the  campaign 
the  bay  gelding  by  Delmar  out  of  Expectation  stood 
higher  than  ever  before.  He  trotted  at  Memphis 
October  24  to  a  record  of  2.oi|,  and  at  the  same 
place  October  26  he  beat  the  high-wheel  sulky  rec- 
ord of  Maud  S.,  2.o8|,  made  in  Cleveland  in  1885. 
His  time  was  2.07.  October  18  at  Memphis  Major 
Delmar  defeated  Lou  Dillon  to  wagon  for  the  Mem- 
phis gold  cup.  The  mare  was  not  in  good  shape 
for  such  a  contest,  and  the  time  was  slow,  2.07,  2.i8J. 
Lou  Dillon  finally  recovered  her  form  and  at  Mem- 
phis, November  n,  reduced  her  sulky  record  to 
2.01.  It  was  clearly  demonstrated  by  the  perform- 
ances of  both  horses  that  the  pacemaker  in  front 

4 


THE   CORNER   STONE   OF   BREEDING 

is  a  material  help  to  the  horse  going  for  a  fast 
record.  At  the  Old  Glory  sale  in  Madison  Square 
Garden  in  November,  1904,  Major  Delmar  was 
knocked  down  to  the  highest  bidder,  C.  K.  G.  Bil- 
lings, whose  offer  was  $15,000.  Through  the  pur- 
chase of  Major  Delmar  Mr.  Billings  now  controls 
the  issues  so  sharply  drawn  in  1903  and  1904.  The 
Queen  and  the  King  could  not  be  in  the  hands  of 
anyone  who  has  more  at  heart  the  best  interests  of 
the  trotting  horse. 

September  19,  1904,  Robert  E.  Bonner  addressed 
a  letter  to  the  Boston  Herald,  resenting  the  insinua- 
tion that  his  family  held  fast  to  the  belief  that  Maud 
S.  represented  the  limit  of  trotting  speed. 

"  Allow  me  to  say,  no  member  of  the  Bonner  fam- 
ily made  such  an  absurd  claim.  About  a  year  ago, 
in  a  communication  to  the  New  York  Sun,  I  said: 
*  In  common  with  the  majority  of  horsemen,  I  be- 
lieve that  Lou  Dillon  can  beat  Maud  S.'s  time  when 
she  starts  under  the  same  conditions  that  obtained 
when  Maud  S.  made  her  mile  in  2.o8f.'  After  a 
year  has  elapsed  I  think  I  can  safely  add  to  that 
statement  by  saying  that,  in  common  with  the  ma- 
jority of  horsemen,  I  believe  that  there  are  now  two 
trotters  (Lou  Dillon  and  Major  Delmar)  who  can 
surpass  Maud  S.'s  performance,  notwithstanding 
that  about  every  world-beater  since  Maud  S.  made 
her  mile  in  2.o8f,  in  July,  1885,  with  the  exception 
of  Major  Delmar,  has  started  to  surpass  Maud  S.'s 
performance  and  failed,  the  best  time  made  in  these 
trials  being  2.09^  by  both  Nancy  Hanks  and  Lou. 
Dillon," 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF    MEN   AND    HORSES 

After  the  publication  of  this  letter  Major  Delmar 
succeeded  in  carrying  the  high-wheel  record  down 
to  2.07.  Lou  Dillon  is  now  in  brood-mare  ranks, 
and  under  the  revised  rule  a  record  cannot  be  made 
by  a  horse  preceded  by  a  pacemaker.  There  is  no 
longer  bitterness  of  feeling  between  the  Bonner  and 
the  Billings  families. 


CHAPTER    II 

GENERAL   GRANT   AS  A   LOVER  OF   HORSES 

GENERAL  U.  S.  GRANT  was  fond  of  horses  as  a 
boy,  and,  in  his  period  of  obscurity  in  Missouri  pre- 
vious to  the  Civil  War,  the  horse  assisted  him  to 
bread  and  butter.  When  in  command  of  the  army, 
he  rode  good  horses  and  insisted  that  they  should 
be  as  well  cared  for  as  circumstances  would  allow. 
After  he  had  passed  through  the  campaign  which 
made  him  President  of  the  United  States,  his  ad- 
miration for  the  trotter  on  the  road  increased.  He 
accepted  an  invitation  from  that  stern  churchman, 
Robert  Bonner,  to  ride  on  Harlem  Lane  behind 
Dexter,  and  was  as  enthusiastic  as  a  taciturn  soldier 
could  be  over  the  elastic  movement  of  the  king  of 
trotters.  On  the  way  back  to  town  Mr.  Bonner 
asked,  "  General,  would  you  like  to  take  the  reins?  " 
'  Yes,"  said  the  President-elect,  and  a  new  light 
came  into  the  eyes.  The  white-faced  and  white- 
legged  gelding  seemed  to  feel  the  touch  of  a  master 
hand,  and  he  stepped  with  a  conscious  feeling  of 
pride  and  obeyed  readily.  After  a  brush  on  the 
smooth  road,  which  was  suggestive  of  the  force  of 
the  whirlwind,  General  Grant  exclaimed :  "  Bonner, 
I  like  to  ride  this  way.  You  had  better  give  me  the 

7 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF   MEN  AND    HORSES 

horse."  The  silence  which  followed  was  almost 
painful.  Mr.  Bonner  cheerfully  would  have  given 
the  price  of  Dexter  to  avoid  replying,  but  he  liked 
the  horse  too  well  to  part  with  him.  Finally  he  said : 
"  I  do  not  think  that  I  can  spare  him  just  yet,"  and 
turned  the  conversation  into  other  channels.  Ehnin- 
ger's  crayon,  "  Taking  the  Reins,"  of  General  Grant 
driving  Dexter  to  a  road  wagon  with  Robert  Bonner 
by  his  side,  was  received  with  much  approbation  by 
the  people  of  the  nation,  and  it  was  suggestive  of 
events  to  come.  In  the  White  House  President 
Grant  firmly  held  the  reins.  In  Washington  Presi- 
dent Grant  watched  carefully  over  his  stables,  and 
even  sought  lessons  in  shoeing  from  Alexander  Dun- 
bar.  He  took  his  summer  vacations  at  Long  Branch, 
and  he  drove  a  spirited  pair  on  the  roads  of  that 
watering  place.  In  talking  horse  he  found  relaxa- 
tion, because  it  took  his  mind  from  the  perplexing 
questions  of  State.  He  established  a  trotting  horse 
breeding  farm  in  Missouri,  but,  as  he  was  unable 
to  give  it  personal  supervision,  it  was  not  a  pro- 
nounced success.  He  delighted  in  visiting  Stony 
Ford,  and  discussing  breeding  questions  with  Charles 
Backman.  He  was  charmed  by  the  hospitality  of 
Stony  Ford,  and  was  assured  that  within  its  gates 
he  was  safe  from  the  importunities  of  politicians. 
The  stallions,  brood  mares,  and  colts  greatly  inter- 
ested him,  and,  in  driving  through  the  fields  where 
the  carpet  of  green  was  buttoned  down  by  the  gold 
of  dandelions,  he  studied  with  critical  eye  the  out- 

8 


GENERAL   GRANT  AS   A  LOVER  OF   HORSES 

lines  of  foals  and  attempted  to  predict  their  future. 
In  that  realm  of  peace  doubtless  his  thoughts  often 
reverted  to  the  turbulent  scenes  of  war,  of  which 
he  grew  weary  when  the  great  Captain  of  the  South, 
Robert  E.  Lee,  laid  down  his  sword. 

It  was  in  the  autumn  of  the  year  after  General 
Grant's  second  term  in  the  White  House  that  a  select 
party  was  at  Stony  Ford.  The  air  was  bracing,  but 
a  trifle  crisp  for  an  invalid,  and  Mr.  Backman  had 
a  top  wagon  drawn  under  the  trees  at  the  edge  of 
the  training  track.  In  this  General  Grant  took  his 
seat  and,  well-wrapped  up,  had  a  full  view  of  the 
mile  course,  and  held  his  watch  on  the  young  trotters. 
When  the  horses  were  not  in  action,  the  eyes  of 
the  General  rested  upon  the  banks  of  the  Walkill, 
where  the  sumac  and  thornapple  blushed  scarlet, 
and  beyond  upon  the  Shawangunk,  over  which  hung 
a  veil  as  delicate  as  any  ever  woven  by  the  looms  of 
man.  He  was  a  little  weary  when  assisted  from  the 
wagon  and  walked  with  hesitating  step  to  the  house, 
and  up  the  broad  stairs  into  the  large  smoking-room. 
He  took  a  seat  in  a  big  leather-cushioned  chair, 
lighted  a  strong  cigar,  and  smoked  it  almost  in 
silence.  He  looked  through  the  windows  out  upon 
the  fair  fields,  while  the  smoke  curled  upward,  then 
suddenly  threw  away  the  stump  of  fragrant  tobacco, 
and  said :  "  Backman,  that  is  my  last  cigar.  I  shall 
never  smoke  another." 

Excessive  smoking  had  injured  his  health,  and  he 
kept  his  word.  In  a  series  of  articles  which  I  con- 

9 


RECOLLECTIONS   OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

tributed  in  1896  to  Scribner's  Magazine,  on  the 
"  Evolution  of  the  Trotting  Horse  "  is  a  full-page 
illustration  of  "  A  Typical  Evening  in  the  Smoking 
Room  at  Stony  Ford."  It  was  drawn  by  W.  R. 
Leigh  from  nature  and  from  photographs,  and  at- 
tracted much  attention.  General  Grant  is  sitting  in 
the  big  chair  near  the  center-table,  smoking  and  in 
deep  thought.  Next  to  him  is  Robert  Bonner  talk- 
ing in  his  emphatic  way.  Then  comes  Charles  Back- 
man  in  his  favorite  rocking  chair,  and  then  Benjamin 
F.  Tracy  in  a  chair  with  his  arm  resting  on  a  time- 
worn  sofa.  Standing  to  the  right  of  General  Grant 
is  William  C.  Whitney.  Mr.  Leigh  had  the  advice 
of  Mr.  Backman  in  posing  the  figures,  and  the  scene 
is  as  historically  correct  as  such  scenes  usually  are. 
When  I  turn  to  the  picture,  I  am  reminded  of  the 
change  which  attends  the  footsteps  of  time.  It  fills 
me  with  sadness  to  think  that,  at  the  time  I  write, 
Benjamin  F.  Tracy  is  the  only  member  of  the  group 
who  is  alive.  All  the  others  have  gone  to  explore 
the  mysteries  of  the  Beyond. 

I  shall  carry  with  me  to  the  end  of  life's  pilgrim- 
age the  picture  of  General  Grant  as  I  saw  him  on  the 
field  of  Shiloh.  The  slaughter  had  been  dreadful, 
and  the  timely  crossing  of  the  Tennessee  by  the  army 
of  General  Buell  changed  defeat  into  victory.  For 
a  time  Grant  was  out  of  favor  at  Washington,  and, 
as  he  rode  from  camp  to  camp  that  April  morning, 
his  face  was  stern  to  sadness.  There  were  no  out- 
bursts from  the  soldiers  who  had  borne  the  brunt  of 

10 


GENERAL   GRANT   AS   A   LOVER   OF   HORSES 

conflict,  but  they  regarded  the  taciturn  commander 
with  silent  sympathy.  General  Grant  was  well 
mounted  and  it  was  evident  that  his  horse  was  re- 
garded by  him  with  affection.  He  passed  from  view, 
and  the  question  was  how  long  the  shadow  of  Hal- 
leek,  who  came  from  Stanton,  would  rest  upon 
him. 

In  the  summer  of  1866  Jerome  Park  was  opened 
and  people  from  all  sections  of  a  once-divided  land 
were  in  the  throng.  Those  who  had  worn  the  Gray 
with  honor  touched  elbows  with  those  who  had  given 
distinction  to  the  Blue,  and  General  Grant  was  there 
surrounded  by  a  brilliant  company.  Thousands  of 
eyes  rested  upon  him,  but  he  bore  the  scrutiny  with- 
out flinching.  His  eyes  kindled  over  the  close  finishes 
on  the  saddlebags  course,  showing  that  love  of  the 
high-bred  horse  was  always  with  him,  but  the  lips 
usually  were  silent.  Numerous  attempts  were  made 
after  this  to  get  him  to  tracks  where  thoroughbreds 
sported  silk,  but  a  polite  excuse  for  not  accepting 
invitations  was  found.  In  1879,  after  his  triumphal 
tour  of  the  world,  he  went  to  the  Oakland  track  in 
California  to  see  St.  Julien  trot  against  the  2.13^ 
of  Rarus,  and  the  success  of  the  horse  aroused  his 
enthusiasm.  He  left  the  judges'  stand  to  visit  St. 
Julien  in  his  stall  and  to  offer  his  personal  congratu- 
lations to  Orrin  A.  Hickok,  the  driver  of  the  gelding. 

In  my  file  I  find  a  copy  of  a  letter  to  Mr.  Bonner, 
dated  "  Headquarters  of  the  Army  of  the  United 
States,  March  3Oth,  1868": 

ii 


RECOLLECTIONS   OF   MEN  AND    HORSES 

"  I  hope  by  the  time  your  present  stock  is  broken 
down  by  old  age  to  present  you  a  pair  of  my  own 
raising,  better  than  you  have  now.  The  next  ten 
years  ought  to  produce  something  that  will  go  in 
2.10.  If  you  hold  out  as  well  as  the  Commodore 
has,  you  will  still  then  be  young  enough  to  hold  the 
reins  over  such  stock. 

"  U.  S.  GRANT." 

At  the  time  this  was  written  Dexter,  with  his  rec- 
ord of  2.17^,  was  the  trotting  king  and  the  shining 
light  of  Mr.  Bonner's  stable.  In  after  years  two 
horses  with  records  better  than  2.10  to  high-wheel 
sulky  were  occupants  of  the  stable,  but  neither  was 
bred  by  General  Grant. 

General  U.  S.  Grant  tells  us  in  his  personal 
memoirs  that  as  a  boy  his  father,  Jesse  R.  Grant, 
found  a  home  in  the  family  of  Judge  Tod,  the  father 
of  the  late  Governor  Tod  of  Ohio,  and  remained 
there  until  he  was  old  enough  to  learn  a  trade.  John 
Tod,  one  of  the  sons  of  Governor  Tod,  was  for 
many  years  a  prominent  owner  of  trotting  horses, 
and,  prior  to  the  William  Edwards  regime,  was  the 
President  of  the  Driving  Park  Association  at  Cleve- 
land. George  Tod,  the  brother  of  John,  is  a  dis- 
tinguished breeder  and  owner  of  trotting  horses  at 
Youngstown,  Ohio. 

"I  detested  trade,"  writes  General  Grant,  "  pre- 
ferring almost  any  other  labor;  but  I  was  fond  of 
agriculture,  and  of  all  employment  in  which  horses 
were  used.  When  I  was  about  eleven  years  old,  I 

12 


GENERAL   GRANT   AS   A   LOVER   OF   HORSES 

was  strong  enough  to  hold  a  plow.  From  that  age 
until  seventeen  I  did  all  the  work  done  with  horses, 
such  as  breaking  up  the  land,  furrowing,  plowing 
corn  and  potatoes,  bringing  in  the  crops  when  har- 
vested, hauling  all  the  wood,  besides  attending  two 
or  three  horses,  a  cow  or  two,  and  sawing  wood  for 
stoves,  etc.,  while  still  attending  school.'* 

Before  he  was  fifteen  he  began  trading  horses  with 
varying  degrees  of  success.  Brought  up  as  he  was,  it 
is  not  strange  that  admiration  for  the  horse  of  high 
form  and  action  should  have  intensified  with  the 
years.  He  was  a  student  of  pedigree  and  perfectly 
at  home  in  the  saddle  or  behind  a  fast  trotter. 


CHAPTER  III 

ROBERT  BONNER  ON    SHOEING 

ROBERT  BONNER  was  born  in  Londonderry,  Ireland, 
April  28,  1824,  and  was  brought  up  a  strict  Presby- 
terian. When  fifteen  years  old,  he  came  to  the 
United  States  with  his  mother  and  brothers  and  sis- 
ters, and  entered  the  printing  office  of  the  C  our  ant 
at  Hartford,  Conn.  He  was  ambitious  to  excel  and 
worked  over  hours  to  learn  as  much  as  it  was  possible 
to  learn  about  the  business.  He  came  to  New  York 
in  1844  and  founded  the  New  York  Ledger,  mak- 
ing a  phenomenal  success  of  it.  He  accumulated  a 
large  fortune  and  spent  money  generously  to  uplift 
humanity  and  to  advance  the  interests  of  breeding. 
He  despised  shams  and  resolutely  set  his  face  against 
the  foibles  of  fashionable  society.  His  associates 
were  the  intellectual  men,  the  dominating  spirits  of 
his  day  and  generation.  It  was  my  good  fortune  to 
win  his  confidence,  to  study  him  behind  the  scenes 
as  it  were,  to  see  him  in  all  of  his  moods,  and  to 
closely  advise  with  him.  I  always  found  him  as 
true  as  the  magnet  to  the  pole,  never  stooping  to 
deception,  unflinchingly  advocating  what  he  believed 
to  be  right,  never  swayed  by  public  clamor,  and  his 
word  was  in  truth  as  good  as  his  bond.  There  is 
much  that  I  should  like  to  write  about  him,  which 

14 


ROBERT   BONNER   ON    SHOEING 

I  cannot  do,  because,  although  he  has  preceded  me 
across  the  river  which  separates  night  from  morn- 
ing, the  seal  of  confidence  is  still  on  my  lips.  And 
yet  I  feel  at  liberty  to  make  extracts  from  the  hun- 
dreds of  letters  in  my  possession.  There  was  never 
a  more  enthusiastic  horseman  than  Robert  Bonner, 
and  his  heart  was  adamant  when  you  sought  to  per- 
suade him  to  deviate  even  a  little  from  the  policy 
which  he  had  mapped  out  in  the  beginning.  He  was 
not  the  slave  of  Dogma,  but  he  kept  faith  with  the 
Church,  while  indulging  a  fancy  for  speed  in  light 
harness.  He  did  not  pull  the  Church  down  to  the 
level  of  tricksters,  but  took  the  horse  of  high  form 
and  action  and  lifted  it  into  an  atmosphere  respected 
by  the  Church.  To  do  this  was  no  easy  task.  Perse- 
verance, tact,  and  courage  were  necessary  to  success. 
From  the  memoranda  published  by  Mr.  Bonner  in 
the  spring  of  1895  I  extract: 

"  In  July,  1856,  when  I  bought  my  first  trotting 
horse,  there  were  only  19  horses,  including  the  living 
and  the  dead,  that  had  trotted  a  mile  in  2.30.  Now 
there  are  10,539  'm  tne  ^st-  ^n  tne  summer  of  that 
year,  1856,  I  came  near  breaking  down  from  over- 
work. My  personal  friend  and  family  physician, 
Doctor  Samuel  Hall,  advised  me  to  get  a  horse  and 
take  an  hour's  exercise  every  morning  in  the  open 
air.  He  not  only  gave  me  the  advice,  but  he  actually 
purchased  the  horse  for  me.  So  that  if  I  have  done 
anything  to  stimulate  the  interest  that  nearly  all 
Americans  take  in  the  trotting  horse,  the  credit  is 
due  in  no  small  degree  to  Dr.  Hall.  The  increase, 

15 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF   MEN  AND    HORSES 

when  you  come  to  think  of  it,  in  one  man's  life- 
time, from  19  to  10,539,  seems  to  be  almost  beyond 
belief.  .  .  .  Besides  such  record-breakers  as 
Dexter,  2.17^;  Rarus,  2.13^;  Maud  S.,  2.o8|,  and 
Sunol,  2.o8J,  I  own  or  have  owned,  Alfred  S.,  rec- 
ord 2.i6J;  Edwin  Forrest,  record  2.18 — trial 
2. i  if ;  Pickard,  record  2.i8i;  Ansel,  record  2.20; 
Music,  record  2.2  ii;  Molsey,  record  2.2 if;  Joe 
Elliott,  the  first  horse  to  trot  a  public  trial  in  2.15  J; 
May  Bird,  record  2.21;  Peerless,  trial  2.23!  to 
wagon — driven  by  Hiram  Woodruff — the  fastest 
mile  the  great  driver  ever  drove  any  horse ;  Elf rida, 
record  2.13^;  Grafton,  record  2.22^;  Pocahontas, 
record  2.26f — trial  2.17!;  Startle,  the  first  Eastern- 
bred  three-year-old  to  get  a  record  of  2.36,  and  the 
first  horse  to  trot  a  public  trial  on  Fleetwood  in 
2.19.  To  this  list  I  could  add  Maud  Macey,  Lady 
Stout,  and  several  others  with  records  better  than 
2.30;  to  say  nothing  of  Lady  Palmer  and  Flatbush 
Maid,  the  first  team  to  trot  a  public  trial  in  2.26, 
over  thirty  years  ago." 

Among  the  brood  mares  enumerated  by  Mr.  Bon- 
ner  were  Russella,  own  sister  to  Maud  S. ;  Jessie 
Kirk,  dam  of  Majolica,  record  2.15,  and  Miss  Ma- 
jolica, 2.24^;  Daybreak,  by  Harold  (sire  of  Maud 
S.),  dam  Midnight  (the  dam  of  Jay-eye-see)  ;  Lady 
Stout,  the  first  trotter  to  beat  2.30  as  a  three-year- 
old;  Lady  Winfield,  sister  to  Sheridan,  record 
2.20J;  Lucy  Cuyler,  trial  to  skeleton  wagon  2.15^, 
and  a  half  mile  to  top  road  wagon  at  Fleetwood  in 
1.05;  Manetta,  trial  2.i6£,  and  Maud  Macey,  trial 
2.i6|.  The  performances  of  these  horses  were  made 

16 


ROBERT   BONNER   ON    SHOEING 

without  the  advantage  of  ball-bearing  axles  and  pneu- 
matic tires,  which  in  the  opinion  of  good  judges 
increased  speed  on  an  average  from  five  to  six 
seconds. 

In  the  memoranda  of  1897  Mr.  Bonner  stated 
that  he  had  expended  about  $600,000  in  the  purchase 
of  trotting  horses.  '  To  those  friends  who  have 
criticised  me  for  having  paid  so  much  money  for 
horses,  I  may  be  pardoned  for  saying  that  I  have 
given  away  a  much  larger  sum  for  religious  and 
benevolent  purposes."  Attention  was  modestly  called 
to  the  fact  that  over  100  horses  with  public  records 
could  be  traced  to  animals  bred  on  his  farm  at 
Tarrytown. 

"  But  the  thing  of  all  others  in  connection  with 
horses,  if  I  except  the  great  benefit  to  my  health 
from  driving  them,  which  necessarily  keeps  me  out 
of  doors,  that  has  afforded  me  the  most  gratification 
is  the  improvement  I  have  been  able  to  make  in 
the  speed  of  those  I  have  purchased,  and  the  conse- 
quent relief  from  suffering  and  lameness  the  poor 
animals  experienced  after  coming  into  my  possession 
and  having  their  feet  treated  under  my  direction." 

Mr.  Bonner  was  the  ablest  student  of  the  foot 
of  the  horse  and  the  greatest  enthusiast  on  balancing 
through  shoeing  that  this  country  has  produced,  and 
the  hours  that  I  spent  with  him  in  discussing  this 
subject  and  in  following  practical  demonstrations 
were  hours  dedicated  to  wisdom.  I  was  his  com- 
panion in  many  long  journeys,  undertaken  solely  for 

17 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

the  purpose  of  studying  hoof  bearings  and  their  in- 
fluence on  motion.  The  shelves  of  Mr.  Bonner's 
library  in  the  house  on  West  56th  Street,  New  York, 
were  filled  with  all  the  known  writings  on  the  anatomy 
of  the  horse  and  the  treatment  of  feet,  and  every 
theory  advanced  was  put  to  actual  test  in  the  black- 
smith's shop.  Although  Mr.  Bonner  had  great  faith 
in  the  originality  of  David  Roberge,  I  heard  him  say 
on  more  than  one  occasion  that  the  "  old  man  "  could 
not  always  be  depended  upon  to  wisely  apply  his 
own  laws.  "  I  always  want  him  with  me  when  I 
shoe  Maud  S.  for  a  great  performance,  but  not  for 
$10,000  would  I  allow  him  to  direct  her  shoeing  in 
my  absence."  About  the  first  thing  that  Mr.  Bonner 
did  after  Maud  S.  had  been  turned  over  to  him  by 
Mr.  Vanderbilt  was  to  remove  her  shoes  and  change 
the  bearing  of  her  feet.  When  his  critics  heard  of 
this,  they  predicted  that  he  would  ruin  the  mare, 
that  he  would  rob  her  of  her  speed,  but,  under  the 
shoeing  of  her  new  owner,  she  twice  reduced  her 
record,  a  thing  that  would  have  been  impossible  had 
she  remained  as  she  was  when  delivered. 

Right  here  I  deem  it  appropriate  to  introduce  an 
extract  from  a  paper  read  by  Mr.  Bonner  at  a  meet- 
ing of  the  New  York  Farmers  held  at  the  Metro- 
politan Club,  New  York,  on  the  I9th  of  February, 
1895: 

"  Before  the  first  veterinary  college  was  estab- 
lished in  England,  besides  the  treatises  of  Bridges 
and  Osmer,  there  were  works  published  by  Dr. 

18 


ROBERT   BONNER   ON    SHOEING 

Bracken,  Captain  Burden,  William  Gibson,  Solley- 
sell,  Markham,  and  James  Clark,  farrier  to  his 
Majesty  for  Scotland.  But  I  shall  not  weary  you 
with  extracts  from  them.  Since  the  college  was 
started  we  have  had  works  of  more  or  less  value  on 
the  foot  from  St.  Bel,  its  first  professor,  from  Cole- 
man,  who  succeeded  him,  and  from  Bracy,  Clark, 
Freeman,  White,  Youatt,  Goodwin,  Percival,  Flem- 
ing, Colonel  Fitzwygram,  of  the  King's  Hussars, 
James  Turner,  and  others  too  numerous  to  mention. 
Of  these  I  consider  Fitzwygram's  *  Notes  on  Shoe- 
ing/ and  Turner's  treatise  on  *  Navicular  Joint  Lame- 
ness,' the  most  valuable.  Colonel  Fitzwygram  de- 
votes considerable  space  to  the  elementary  principles 
of  shoeing,  but  the  leading  feature  of  his  book  is  the 
part  in  which  he  advocates  turning  up  the  toe  of  the 
shoe  out  of  the  line  of  wear,  giving  it  the  appearance 
of  a  shoe  that  is  nearly  worn  out  at  the  toe,  which 
allows  the  foot  to  glide  or  pass  gracefully  over  the 
toe  as  it  leaves  the  ground.  This  shoe,  I  believe,  will 
work  well  on  nine  horses  out  of  ten,  but  especially 
on  those  with  strong  cup  feet  and  contracted  heels. 
He  sums  up  the  evils  of  the  ordinary  straight  shoe 
as  follows:  a  tendency  to  produce  contracted  heels, 
and  shrivelling  up  of  the  frog  from  the  absence  of 
wear  at  the  back  part  of  the  foot;  stumbling  and 
loss  of  speed  from  the  resistence  of  the  toe  against 
the  ground,  and  undue  strain  on  the  flexor  tendons 
whose  office  it  is  to  flex  and  raise  the  leg. 

"  Turner  was  a  member  of  the  Royal  Veterinary 
College  and  a  veterinary  surgeon  in  the  British  army. 
He  was  the  first  man  to  use  the  phrase  *  navicular  dis- 
ease,' to  which  reference  is  so  often  made  at  the 
present  time.  He  directed  attention  to  it  in  a  com- 
munication that  he  sent  to  the  Veterinary  College  in 

19 


RECOLLECTIONS   OF   MEN  AND    HORSES 

1816  regarding  the  discovery  of  the  precise  seat  of 
chronic  lameness  in  the  foot  of  the  horse  and  also 
in  a  paper  that  he  subsequently  read  before  the  Lon- 
don Veterinary  Medical  Society.  He  introduced 
what  was  known  as  the  unilateral  or  one-sided  system 
of  nailing  the  shoe,  after  paring  down  to  the  quick 
those  commissures  or  channels  between  the  bars  and 
the  frog  which  are  so  morbidly  deep  in  contracted 
feet.  He  was  recognized  as  the  great  authority  in 
his  day  on  the  nature,  origin  and  symptoms  of  navicu- 
lar  joint  lameness.  His  book  can  be  read  with  profit 
by  every  student  of  the  foot.  It  has  been  of  great 
benefit  to  me;  but  Turner  did  not  know  it  all.  In 
fact  I  have  yet  to  hear  of  any  man  who  does  know  it 
all.  The  subject  is  too  vast  and  intricate  for  that. 
I  certainly  do  not  claim  to  have  mastered  it  all,  al- 
though I  think,  from  what  I  have  learned  from 
others  and  from  my  own  experience  and  observation, 
I  have  made  some  progress  in  that  direction. 

"  What  makes  the  subject  of  horse-shoeing  so 
difficult  to  master  is  that  there  are  almost  as  many 
varieties  of  feet  as  there  are  of  the  human  counte- 
nance. It  does  not  follow  that  a  shoe  that  may 
suit  one  horse  of  a  team  will  suit  his  mate.  When 
Maud  S.,  for  instance,  made  the  fastest  mile  that  was 
ever  made  on  a  regulation  track  to  a  high-wheel 
sulky,  she  carried  19  ounces  on  each  forward  foot, 
while  Sunol  carried  only  8  ounces  when  she  made  the 
fastest  mile  that  was  ever  made  to  such  a  sulky  on 
a  kite-shaped  track.  One  great  thing  to  be  remem- 
bered, however,  is  that  the  shape  of  the  hoof  must 
be  made,  as  far  as  possible,  to  correspond  with  that 
of  a  well-formed  coffin  bone,  and  that  the  shoes  must 
not  be  allowed  to  remain  on  the  foot  longer  than 
three  or  at  the  outside  four  weeks." 

20 


ROBERT  BONNER 


ROBERT   BONNER   ON    SHOEING 

When  the  speaker  took  his  seat,  President  Bron- 
son  arose  and  said:  "  We  have  been  waiting  for 
five  years  to  get  Mr.  Bonner  to  come  to  one  of  our 
meetings.  I  think  we  first  tried  in  1890.  But  now 
that  we  have  heard  him  we  are  amply  repaid  for 
waiting  so  long." 

In  1898,  a  few  months  previous  to  his  death,  Mr. 
Bonner  sent  me  a  communication  on  shoeing,  the 
manuscript  of  which  I  have  preserved : 

"  8  West  56th  Street. 

"  When  I  purchased  the  great  road  horse  Pray- 
tell,  about  a  month  ago,  at  the  Madison  Square  sale, 
the  audience,  as  the  daily  papers  stated,  cheered 
heartily,  and  the  press  generally  said  many  kind 
things;  but  since  then  one  writer,  in  a  critical  mood, 
has  expressed  the  hope  that  I  will  be  more  successful 
in  treating  PraytelPs  feet  than  I  was  in  directing 
the  shoeing  of  Joe  Elliott,  intimating  that  I  had 
failed  with  that  horse.  This  critic  had  to  go  a  long 
way  back — over  a  quarter  of  a  century — for  the  ma- 
terial for  his  criticism;  but  I  ought  to  thank  him 
for  bringing  up  the  case  of  Joe  Elliott.  Let  me 
state  the  facts.  In  1869  I  bought  that  horse,  paying 
$10,000  for  him.  He  was  then  five  years  old,  and 
the  fastest  mile  that  he  had  trotted  before  coming 
into  my  possession  was  2.33.  I  immediately  sent 
him  to  Carll  Burr,  and  he  drove  him  in  2.26.  In 
the  fall  of  that  year  I  brought  him  home,  and  the 
next  day,  after  removing  his  shoes,  I  drove  him  over 
to  the  Fashion  course  where  he  was  taken  out  of  my 
road  wagon  and  driven  by  John  Murphy  to  sulky 
in  2.194.  When  he  was  six  years  old,  Murphy  drove 
him  in  2.18^;  and  in  his  eight-year-old  form  I  sent 


21 

,*  A 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF    MEN   AND    HORSES 

him  to  Jock  Bowen  of  Boston,  who  drove  him,  on 
June  29,  1872,  a  trial  in  2.15^ — the  fastest  mile  ever 
trotted  up  to  that  time.  All  these  performances  were 
made  after  he  was  shod  under  my  direction.  If  I 
should  be  equally  successful  with  Praytell,  after  the 
experience  of  all  these  years,  I  ought  to  be  abundantly 
satisfied.  It  is  true  Joe  Elliott  got  '  off,'  to  use  a 
horse  phrase,  after  his  great  performance  in  Boston, 
but  when  he  was  brought  home  he  regained  his  great 
speed,  and  I  drove  him  on  the  road  and  on  Fleetwood 
Park  for  several  years  with  great  pleasure. 

"  Now,  as  to  Praytell,  let  me  say  that  I  have  driven 
him  nearly  every  day,  when  the  weather  would  per- 
mit, since  I  purchased  him.  He  is  a  model  road 
horse.  The  windgalls  on  his  hind  legs  which  pre- 
vented my  friend,  Mr.  Nathan  Straus,  the  owner  of 
Cobwebs,  from  bidding  on  him  have  nearly  disap- 
peared. They  were  caused  by  his  toes  being  too 
long,  and  the  outside  of  his  off  hind  foot  growing 
faster  than  the  inside,  and  the  inside  of  the  near 
hind  foot  growing  faster  than  the  outside  of  that 
foot.  I  have  asked  Mr.  Straus  to  come  to  my  stable 
and  see  for  himself  the  great  improvement  in  Pray- 
tell's  ankles.  Mr.  Tanner,  from  whom  I  bought  him, 
has  sent  me  a  paragraph  from  a  Cleveland  paper, 
in  which  it  is  stated  that  it  is  nearly  a  quarter  of  a 
century  since  I  bought  Dexter,  and  refers  to  him  and 
other  horses  that  I  have  owned  as  *  so-called  road 
horses/  It  is  well  known  that,  instead  of  nearly  a 
quarter  of  a  century,  it  is  over  31  years  since  I 
bought  Dexter,  and  that  he  proved  to  be  a  great  road 
horse.  I  could  drive  him  anywhere  and  any  place 
where  a  horse  could  go.  He  could  be  driven  down 
the  road,  for  instance,  in  a  rain  storm  with  one  hand, 
while  an  umbrella  was  held  up  with  the  other.  Times 

22 


ROBERT   BONNER   ON    SHOEING 

innumerable  I  drove  him  from  my  stable  in  the 
upper  part  of  the  city  through  the  streets  of  New 
York  and  Brooklyn  over  to  Prospect  Park,  where  he 
made  the  fastest  time  to  a  road  wagon  that  was 
ever  made  up  to  that  time.  Before  I  bought  him 
he  had  never  been  driven  without  blinds.  Besides, 
his  feet  hurt  and  irritated  him  and  made  him  ner- 
vous, but  I  remedied  all  that.  So  it  was  with  Maud  S. 
Mr.  Vanderbilt  drove  her  and  Aldine  a  mile  in  pub- 
lic to  a  heavy  road  wagon  in  2.15!,  and  I  have 
driven  her  a  mile  to  wagon  in  2.13^.  I  could  drive 
her  on  the  road  with  as  much  ease  and  comfort  as 
I  could  sit  on  a  chair  in  my  library  reading  a  book 
or  a  newspaper.  When  she  was  delivered  in  my 
stable  on  the  i6th  of  August,  1884,  she  was  lame  in 
her  off  hind  foot.  Her  trainer  told  me  that  no 
veterinary  surgeon  could  stop  that  lameness  if  she  got 
fast  work,  but,  after  I  had  shod  her,  she  reduced  her 
record  that  year  to  2.09^,  and  the  following  year  to 
2.o8|,  without  showing  a  particle  of  lameness  in  that 
foot.  I  could  go  on  and  tell  how  other  great  horses 
with  public  records,  like  Rarus,  Alfred  S.,  Edwin  For- 
rest, May  Bird,  Music,  Pocahontas,  and  Pickard,  in- 
creased their  speed  after  coming  into  my  possession; 
but  to  go  into  details  would  occupy  too  much  space. 
Suffice  it  to  say  that  when  I  bought  Sunol  from  Gov- 
ernor Stanford,  with  a  record  of  2.10^,  she  was 
lame  in  her  off  forward  foot.  After  I  told  Marvin 
how  to  level  it  she  immediately  went  sound  on  it  and 
reduced  her  record  to  2.o8J. 

"  From  the  foregoing  statement  it  will  be  seen 
that  I  own  the  two  horses  that  have  made  the  fastest 
miles  that  were  ever  made  to  the  old  sulky — Maud  S. 
on  the  regulation  track  in  2.o8f,  and  Sunol  in  2.o8i 
on  the  kite-track,  and  that,  although  they  were  both 

23 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

lame  when  I  bought  them,  they  afterward  made  those 
records.  I  feel  as  if  that  alone  compensated  me  for 
all  the  time  I  have  given  to  the  study  of  the  horse's 
foot. 

"  Now  for  a  few  words  about  shoeing  in  connec- 
tion with  some  of  my  recent  purchases.  A  year  ago 
last  spring  I  bought  Maud  C.  from  Mr.  Frank 
Rockefeller;  she  had  a  record  of  2.ioJ,  but  she  was 
nervous  and  unsteady,  attributable  to  the  condition 
of  her  feet.  They  were  very  much  contracted,  owing, 
as  Mr.  Rockefeller  himself  wrote  to  me,  to  the 
fact  that  one  of  his  trainers  was  an  extreme  crank 
on  long  toes.  I  shortened  her  feet  and  expanded  her 
heel,  and  had  the  gratification  of  timing  her  on  the 
3ist  day  of  August  last  in  2.07 J.  Elfrida,  when  I 
bought  her  three  years  ago,  had  a  record  of  2.134, 
but  she  had  a  bowed  tendon,  and  people  were  afraid 
to  bid  on  her.  I  secured  her  for  $1250,  believing 
that  I  could  cure  her.  I  do  not  know  of  any  other 
horse  that  has  trotted  as  many  fast  miles  as  she  has 
during  the  past  two  years;  and  I  timed  her  on  the 
ist  day  of  October  last  in  2.o8J.  Her  legs  are  as 
clean  now  as  those  of  any  colt  on  my  place.  Don  L., 
with  a  record  of  2.12^,  I  timed  in  2.10  on  the  3d 
day  of  September  last.  It  should  be  remembered 
that  all  these  performances  were  made  on  my  three- 
quarter  track,  which  is  several  seconds  slower  than 
either  Cleveland  or  Terre  Haute. 

"  ROBERT  BONNER." 

I  find,  in  my  old  files,  letters  from  thoughtful  train- 
ers, acknowledging  their  indebtedness  to  Mr.  Bon- 
ner  for  valuable  suggestions  with  regard  to  shoeing. 
D.  W.  Woodmansee,  who  was  the  manager  for 
N.  W.  Kittson  when  the  Midway  Park  Stable  was 

24 


ROBERT   BONNER   ON   SHOEING 

prominent  in  Grand  Circuit  battles,  wrote  me  from 
St.  Paul  under  date  of  February  6,  1888 : 

"  My  kindest  regards  to  Mr.  Bonner,  and  please 
say  to  him  that  the  legs  and  feet  of  the  Midway 
horses  have  been  kept  in  good  shape  by  following 
his  invaluable  instructions." 

John  E.  Madden,  whose  education  with  the  trot- 
ters prepared  him  for  a  successful  career  on  the 
running  turf,  has  more  than  once  said  to  me  that 
the  hints  he  got  from  Mr.  Bonner  on  foot  balancing 
were  of  very  great  assistance  to  him  in  training  horses 
for  rich  engagements.  John  E.  Turner,  Orrin  A. 
Hickok,  Budd  Doble,  Charles  Marvin,  and  other 
thoughtful  trainers  were  always  glad  to  listen  to  him 
and  to  acknowlege  their  indebtedness  for  information 
of  practical  value. 


CHAPTER   IV 

WILLIAM   H.   VANDERBILT   SELLS   MAUD  S. 

IT  was  in  the  summer  of  1881  that  Maud  S.  reduced 
the  record  to  2.ioJ,  and,  as  she  was  owned  by  Wm. 
H.  Vanderbilt,  the  rival  of  Mr.  Bonner,  the  latter 
chafed  at  the  thought  of  losing  the  championship, 
which  he  had  held  for  several  years  by  the  purchase 
of  Dexter,  2.17!,  and  Rarus,  2.13?.  He  never 
dreamed  that  Maud  S.  would  be  offered  to  him,  and 
he  kept  close  watch  of  her  most  dangerous  rival  Jay- 
eye-see,  also  owned  by  a  rich  man,  Jerome  I.  Case, 
who  knew  the  full  value  of  his  property.  I  had 
secured  an  option  on  Jay-eye-see,  after  he  had  trotted 
to  a  record  of  2.10,  and  when  Mr.  Bonner  was  in- 
formed that  he  could  take  advantage  of  it  his  spirits 
rose.  Mr.  Vanderbilt  was  not  a  well  man  in  the 
summer  of  1884,  and  he  fretted  over  a  challenge 
issued  by  Mr.  Case,  and  finally  sold  Maud  S.  to  Mr. 
Bonner  for  $40,000.  The  transfer  produced  a 
marked  sensation,  and  I  find  among  my  papers  in 
the  handwriting  of  Mr.  Bonner  the  announcement 
published  on  the  editorial  page  of  the  Turf,  Field 
and  Farm : 

"  MR.    BONNER  BUYS   MAUD   S. 

"  Probably  no  prominent  man  ever  paid  another 
prominent  man  so  marked  a  compliment  as  Mr.  Wm. 

26 


WILLIAM    H.    VANDERBILT    SELLS    MAUD    S. 

H.  Vanderbilt  has  just  paid  to  Mr.  Robert  Bonner. 
Maud  S.,  as  all  intelligent  horsemen  know,  has  the 
fastest  record  of  any  trotting  horse  in  the  world. 
She  is  the  only  animal  that  has  trotted  a  mile  in  less 
than  2.10 — her  record  being  2.09! — a  figure  that 
was  deemed  impossible  for  a  trotting  horse  to  reach 
a  few  years  ago.  Mr.  Vanderbilt  was  lately  offered 
$100,000  for  her,  but  he  declined  it,  preferring  to 
sell  the  mare  for  less  than  half  of  that  sum  to  Mr. 
Bonner,  who  he  knew  would  not  trot  her  in  public 
races.  Last  Friday  he  sent  a  friend  expressly  from 
Saratoga  to  inform  Mr.  Bonner  of  these  facts,  and 
on  Saturday  Mr.  Bonner  sent  his  brother  David  up 
to  Saratoga  to  confer  with  Mr.  Vanderbilt.  The 
result  was  that  Mr.  Bonner  purchased  the  mare  on 
Monday  evening.  The  price  paid  is  $40,000.  Of 
the  seven  great  trotters  who  in  succession  have  broken 
the  record,  to  wit:  Flora  Temple,  Dexter,  Gold- 
smith Maid,  Rarus,  St.  Julien,  Jay-eye-see,  and 
Maud  S.,  Mr.  Bonner  now  owns  three — Dexter, 
Rarus,  and  Maud  S.  What  a  trio! 

"  Mr.  Bonner  was  asked :  *  Suppose  Jay-eye-see 
should  beat  Maud  S.'s  record,  what  would  you  do 
then?'  His  reply  was  characteristic:  '  Buy  him, 
too,  if  I  could,  or  put  Maud  S.  into  training  at  some 
good  track  like  Charter  Oak  Park  at  Hartford  and 
give  the  public  a  free  exhibition  of  speed.' ' 

It  was  pretty  generally  known  that  my  relations 
with  Mr.  Bonner  were  close,  but  no  one  supposed 
that  the  above  quoted  article  was  written  by  his  own 
hand.  The  numerous  erasures  in  the  manuscript 
show  that  the  words  used  were  chosen  with  delibera- 
tion. I  was  with  Mr.  Bonner  when  Maud  S.  was 

27 


RECOLLECTIONS   OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

delivered  to  him  on  that  August  afternoon  in  1884, 
and  he  asked  me  to  place  myself  in  communication 
with  Mr.  Case. 

It  was  under  date  of  June  16,  1884,  that  J.  I. 
Case  wrote  to  me  from  Racine,  Wisconsin : 

"  I  hardly  know  what  to  say  in  regard  to  the 
option  you  allude  to.  Jay-eye-see  is  under  the  sea- 
son's contract  with  Mr.  Crawford  and  will  earn  quite 
a  sum  this  season,  barring  accidents,  and  I  feel  sure 
will  lower  the  trotting  record.  I  think  that  $50^  M 
net  and  $5  M  to  the  negotiator  a  fair  consideration. 
I  hope  to  be  at  Providence  and  see  you." 

Instead  of  going  to  Providence,  I  went  to  Cleve- 
land, where  Maud  S.  was  expected  to  start.  On  the 
track  I  was  handed  the  following  dispatch : 

"PROVIDENCE,  R.  L,  August  i,  1884. 
"  Jay-eye-see  two  ten ;    Phallas  two  thirteen  and 
three-quarters.    Tell  Stone  we  are  not  too  proud  to 
trot  him  a  race. 

"  W.  H.  CRAWFORD." 

This  telegram  produced  a  commotion,  because  the 
2.10  of  Jay-eye-see  crowned  him  King  of  Trotters. 
The  following  day  Maud  S.  was  started  at  Cleveland, 
and  the  friends  of  Mr.  Vanderbilt  breathed  freely 
when  the  official  time  was  recorded  as  2.09!.  The 
great  daughter  of  Harold  had  regained  her  crown. 

It  was  in  the  latter  part  of  June,  1884,  that  I 
gave  prominence  to  the  following: 

28 


WILLIAM    H.   VANDERBILT    SELLS    MAUD    S. 

"  Mr.  Case  is  willing  to  match  Jay-eye-see  for  a 
race  or  an  exhibition  heat  against  any  horse  for 
$10,000  a  side,  half  forfeit;  to  be  trotted  either  at 
Providence  or  Chicago,  as  may  be  mutually  agreed 
upon;  each  party  to  choose  one  judge,  and  they  a 
third.  The  Turf,  Field  and  Farm  to  be  stakeholder. 
Enclosed  please  find  forfeit." 

The  check  for  $5000  which  I  received  as  forfeit 
meant  business,  and  the  daily  journals  took  hold  of 
the  matter  and  the  land  was  filled  with  excitement. 

One  of  the  letters  received  by  me  was  post- 
marked June  27 : 

"  H.  BUSBEY,  ESQ., 

"  Dear  Sir:  Your  note,  but  no  copy  of  the  paper, 
is  received.  I  have,  however,  seen  the  challenge,  and 
cannot  account  for  having  myself  or  my  mare  men- 
tioned, as  everyone  well  knows  my  mare  is  not  kept 
for  public  exhibition  or  trotting  purposes.  I  am 
opposed  to  hippodroming  in  any  shape.  This  looks 
very  much  like  it. 

"  Very  truly  yours, 
"  June  26-84.  W.  H.  VANDERBILT." 

Mr.  W.  J.  Gordon,  owner  of  Clingstone,  also 
waxed  indignant,  stating  in  a  letter  to  me  that  it  was 
well  known  that  he  "  would  not  make  a  wager  of  any 
kind  under  any  circumstances."  Mr.  Case  was  called 
upon  to  repudiate  the  challenge,  but  declined  to  do 
so,  mildly  stating  in  an  interview,  telegraphed  over 
the  country: 

29 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF    MEN   AND    HORSES 

"  My  challenge  did  not  mention  any  particular 
horse  or  horses  I  desired  to  m£tch  Jay-eye-see  against. 
I  see  the  challenge  has  stirred  up  quite  a  hornets' 
nest,  but  no  one  can  say  that  I  challenged  horses 
known  to  have  been  withdrawn  from  the  track.  Jay- 
eye-see  can  out-trot  anything  that  stands  on  four  legs, 
and  I  am  ready  to  back  him  at  a  moment's  notice." 

From  a  letter  written  by  W.  H.  Crawford,  man- 
ager of  the  Case  stable,  and  dated  Chicago,  June 
28,  1884,  I  extract: 

"  Mr.  Vanderbilt  seems  to  be  boiling  over,  but 
it  can't  be  helped.  The  best  way  to  relieve  himself 
of  heat  and  work  off  the  bile  would  be  to  give 
Maud  S.  a  little  preparatory  work  and  score  up  with 
Jay-eye-see.  He  need  have  no  fears  of  its  being 
called  a  hippodrome  with  $20,000  in  the  judges' 
stand  awaiting  the  decision.  Maud  S.,  as  the  prop- 
erty of  Mr.  Vanderbilt,  challenged  Santa  Claus,  ac- 
cepted challenge  of  Trinket  and  trotted  her;  trotted 
in  purse  races  at  Cleveland  and  Buffalo;  trotted  St. 
Julien  a  race,  and  to  sum  up  trotted  the  country  for 
specials  and  gate  receipts,  and  therefore  her  owner 
must  have  a  short  memory." 

Two  days  later  Mr.  Crawford  wrote  me  from  Chi- 
cago: 

"  Mr.  Gordon  matched  Clingstone  against  St. 
Julien  to  trot  here  a  year  ago,  putting  up  $1000  for- 
feit and  losing  to  Hickok,  as  Clingstone  went  lame." 

The  discussion  was  very  warm  while  it  lasted,  and 

30 


WILLIAM    H.    VANDERBILT    SELLS    MAUD    S. 

one  of  the  results  of  the  agitation  was  the  sale  of 
Maud  S.  to  Mr.  Bonner. 

Immediately  after  the  transfer  of  Maud  S.  from 
the  Vanderbilt  to  the  Bonner  stable,  I  wrote  as  fol- 
lows to  J.  I.  Case: 

"  I  send  you  by  this  mail  your  check  for  $5000 
which  I  have  held  as  a  forfeit  for  a  race  with  any 
trotter  in  the  world.  As  Maud  S.,  as  you  will  see 
by  enclosed  slip,  has  just  passed  into  the  stable  of 
Mr.  Bonner,  there  is  no  chance  for  a  race  with  her, 
and  there  is  no  other  horse  before  the  public  to 
compete  with  Jay-eye-see.  Mr.  Bonner  would  like 
to  own  your  horse,  provided  he  made  a  very  fast 
record.  I  have  said  this  to  you  before  and  I  repeat 
it  now.  But  he  sees  and  I  see  that  the  retirement 
of  Maud  S.  depreciates  his  value  for  race  purposes, 
because  there  is  nothing  to  go  against  him.  What 
will  you  price  him  to  me  to  beat  2.09!,  it  being  un- 
derstood that  I  am  to  pay  you  $1000  for  every 
quarter  of  a  second  that  you  get  below  2.09^?  If 
he  should  trot  in  2.08  or  2.08^,  I  am  to  claim  option, 
paying  you  $1000  for  the  same,  and  you  are  to  be 
allowed  to  fill  what  engagements  you  have  made  for 
him,  but  are  to  keep  him  sound.  I  want  you  to  be 
reasonable  and  to  weigh  well  the  fact  that,  Maud  S. 
being  out  of  the  way,  one  great  incentive  to  excite- 
ment is  gone.  Should  you  name  a  price  that  would 
be  satisfactory,  I  should  like  the  horse  to  go  to 
Providence  or  some  other  fast  track  and  make  the 
lowest  possible  record.  Please  wire  me  on  receipt 
of  this  what  you  will  do." 

From  a  letter,  dated  Racine,  August  21,  1884, 
and  signed  J.  I.  Case,  I  quote: 


RECOLLECTIONS   OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

"  Yours  of  1 9th  inst.,  containing  my  check,  $5000 
forfeit  on  challenge,  is  just  received.  Thanks  for 
the  trouble  we  made  you  in  the  matter,  but  am 
sorry  it  worried  Mr.  Vanderbilt  so  as  to  compel  him 
to  part  with  his  pet  comfort.  I  know  nothing  of 
the  Jay-eye-see  syndicate  the  papers  mention  as  of- 
fering Mr.  Vanderbilt  $100,000  for  the  mare.  If 
there  was  anything  of  the  kind  by  any  party  or 
parties,  it  was  wholly  unknown  to  me.  The  report 
rather  accuses  me  of  trying  to  assist  in  getting  up  a 
hippodrome  scheme,  which,  as  far  as  I  am  concerned, 
is  as  far  from  the  truth  as  possible.  Now,  in  regard 
to  selling  Jay-eye-see.  I  received  two  telegrams  on 
last  Wednesday  asking  a  price,  and  I  answered  I 
could  not  sell  him  because  it  would  break  up  the 
family.  I  wired  you  also  that  I  withdrew  him  from 
sale.  I  wired  because  W.  H.  C.  had  told  me  that 
you  considered  you  had  an  option  on  him.  As  I 
recollect  you  asked  for  one  and  I  replied  I  did  not 
think  I  cared  to  sell  him,  but  you  pressed  me  for 
my  idea  of  his  value  in  case  I  would  sell,  and  I 
replied  about  $50,000  and  $4000  or  $5000  to  the 
man  doing  the  business.  Now  I  think  Jay-eye-see 
can  beat  any  piece  of  horseflesh  living,  3  in  5  to 
harness,  either  trotter  or  pacer.  I  believe  Mr.  Bon- 
ner  to  be  a  gentleman  and  consistent,  and  I  do  not 
wish  to  say  a  word  to  wound  him,  and  no  word  will 
go  to  the  public  without  a  cause.  I  have  been  think- 
ing how  we  would  manage  to  bring  the  two  great 
phenomenal  trotters  together  and  fairly  test  their 
speed  and  bottom.  Do  you  think  it  would  coincide 
with  Mr.  Bonner's  views  to  match  the  two,  to  trot 
for  gate  money,  and  we  devote  the  proceeds  to  chari- 
table purposes,  he  to  name  the  disposition  of  one 
half  and  I  the  other?  We  can  arrange  such  a  meet- 

3* 


WILLIAM    H.    VANDERBILT    SELLS    MAUD    S. 

ing  as  soon  as  I  can  get  through  with  Jay-eye-see's 
engagements  and  give  him  time  for  due  preparation. 
Please  do  not  mention  this  to  Mr.  Bonner  if  you 
think  he  would  be  displeased  with  the  idea,  and  in 
no  event  make  it  known  to  others." 

As  I  knew  the  proposition  would  be  offensive  to 
Mr.  Bonner,  I  did  not  hand  him  Mr.  Case's  letter 
to  read,  but  informed  him  that  the  owner  of  Jay- 
eye-see  was  trying  to  crawl  away  from  his  option,  and 
advised  him  not  to  think  further  of  buying  the 
gelding.  I  further  advised  him  to  put  Maud  S.  in 
training  and  to  try  and  reduce  the  record  with  her, 
explaining  that  such  would  be  cheaper  than  buying 
other  possible  record-breakers,  and  that  success  would 
add  immensely  to  the  feeling  of  personal  gratifica- 
tion. He  finally  agreed  with  me,  but  asked  me  to 
think  over  a  plan  by  which  he  could  obtain  a  record 
without  doing  violence  to  the  firmly  established  rules 
of  his  life.  I  shall  never  forget  that  long  evening  in 
his  library  in  which  the  memorandum  was  drawn  up 
which  was  finally  accepted  by  the  National  Trotting 
Association.  Innumerable  changes  were  made  in  it 
before  it  satisfied  Mr.  Bonner,  and  the  argument 
sometimes  was  quite  heated.  The  last  draft  is  before 
me  and  it  shows  erasures  and  additions. 

"  THE   TROTTING   QUEEN   AT    CHARTER   OAK    PARK, 

"  Tuesday,  October  14,  2  P.  M. 

"  In  compliance  with  a  promise  made  through  the 
press  to  the  citizens  of  Hartford,  Mr.  Bonner's  old 

33 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF    MEN   AND    HORSES 

home,  Maud  S.  will  trot  on  Tuesday,  October  14,  or 
next  good  day  at  Charter  Oak  Park,  exhibition  heats 
against  her  own  record  of  2.09!,  and,  should  she 
beat  the  record  (which  she  may  not  be  able  to  do, 
owing  to  the  lateness  of  the  season  and  the  uncer- 
tainty of  the  weather) ,  The  Connecticut  Stock  Breed- 
ers' Association  will  commemorate  the  achievement 
by  awarding  to  her  a  cup  with  the  time  made  by  her 
engraved  thereon." 

The  word  commemorate  struck  the  fancy  of  Mr. 
Bonner  and  he  gravely  handed  me  a  cent  as  a  token 
of  remembrance.  This  copper  coin  I  still  have.  The 
next  morning  I  went  to  Hartford  and  saw  T.  J. 
Vail,  Secretary  of  the  National  Trotting  Association, 
and  Morgan  G.  Bulkeley,  President  of  the  Connecti- 
cut Stock  Breeders'  Association,  and  arranged  for  the 
competition  against  time  under  the  rules  set  forth  in 
the  memorandum.  There  was  willingness  to  stretch 
a  point  to  meet  the  well-grounded  views  of  a  horse- 
man so  resolute  and  consistent  as  Robert  Bonner. 
One  of  the  gentlemen  who  accompanied  Mr.  Bon- 
ner and  myself  to  Hartford  on  that  Tuesday  in 
October  was  General  James  F.  Robinson,  President 
of  the  famous  Kentucky  Association,  the  oldest  active 
racing  association  in  America,  and  he  was  one  of  the 
timers.  The  wind  blew  a  gale  and  those  who  were 
without  overcoats  shivered  even  when  standing  in  the 
sunshine.  Fast  time  was  impossible  under  the  circum- 
stances, and  when  2.i2f  was  hung  out  the  critical  on- 
lookers felt  that  Maud  S.  had  acquitted  herself  as  well 
as  could  be  expected.  The  experiment  showed  that 

34 


WILLIAM    H.    VANDERBILT    SELLS    MAUD    S. 

success  could  not  be  hoped  for,  except  in  an  autumn  cli- 
mate more  favorable  than  that  of  New  England,  and 
Bair  was  directed  to  ship  the  great  chestnut  without 
delay  to  Lexington.  When  the  mare  was  thought  to  be 
ripe  for  a  supreme  effort,  I  went  to  Lexington  with 
Mr.  Bonner,  but  we  were  compelled  to  wait  for  good 
day  and  track.  Frost  had  struck  the  ground,  robbing 
it  of  some  of  its  elasticity,  but  on  Monday  the 
announcement  was  made  that  Maud  S.  would  start 
on  the  following  day,  November  n,  1884,  to  "  beat 
her  own  record  of  2.09!,  and  should  she  succeed, 
Woodburn  Farm,  where  she  was  bred,  will  com- 
memorate the  achievement  by  awarding  to  her, 
through  the  Kentucky  Trotting  Horse  Breeders'  As- 
sociation, a  cup  with  the  time  made  by  her  engraved 
thereon." 

It  was  a  bright  morning,  and  the  church-going 
people  assembled  at  the  track  by  the  hundred.  Mr. 
Bonner  was  President  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of 
Dr.  John  Hall's  church  on  Fifth  Avenue,  New  York, 
and  all  good  Presbyterians  wished  him  success.  Gen- 
eral W.  T.  Withers,  Colonel  W.  C.  P.  Breckinridge, 
and  Captain  T.  J.  Bush  were  conspicuous  in  the 
throng.  The  gentlemen  selected  for  judges  and 
timers  were  Major  H.  C.  McDowell,  owner  of 
Dictator,  sire  of  Jay-eye-see ;  Colonel  Richard  West, 
who  introduced  Dictator  to  Kentuckians;  Major 
P.  P.  Johnston,  and  W.  H.  Wilson.  The  little  stand 
on  the  opposite  side  of  the  track  was  occupied  by 
Mr.  Bonner,  General  J.  F.  Robinson,  Mr.  Lucas 

35 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF    MEN   AND    HORSES 

Brodhead  and  myself.  The  time  of  the  warming  up 
mile  was  2.26! ,  which  the  experts  declared  was  too 
slow.  "  All  eyes,"  I  quote  from  a  published  report, 
"  were  fixed  upon  the  handsome  chestnut  when  she 
came  down  the  home  stretch  for  the  real  effort,  and 
Bair  nodded  for  the  word.  The  first  quarter  is  a 
slow  one,  owing  to  the  turn,  but  Maud  S.  trotted  it 
in  32!  seconds.  The  wind  now  struck  her  in  the 
face  and  it  took  her  i  .04  to  reach  the  half  mile  pole, 
which  was  a  second  slower  than  the  schedule  pre- 
pared by  Bair  previous  to  the  start.  At  the  three- 
quarter  pole  the  watches  split  in  1.37,  and  now  the 
queen  was  encouraged  by  a  running  horse  driven  by 
Mike  Bowerman,  starting  in  behind  her.  As  she 
came  strongly  down  the  stretch  Bair  touched  her  with 
the  whip  and  she  gamely  responded.  The  judges 
stopped  their  watches  in  2.09!,  thus  making  her 
beat  her  record  by  half  a  second  or  about  22  feet. 
The  majority  of  outside  watches  made  the  time 
2.09." 

Mr.  Bonner  himself  caught  the  time  2.09  and  so 
did  General  Robinson  who  was  by  his  side,  and  Mr. 
Wm.  L.  Simmons  who  stood  under  the  wire.  Mr. 
Bonner  felt  that  he  should  have  had  the  benefit  of 
the  doubt,  but  to  the  public  he  made  no  complaint. 
When  there  was  a  lull  in  the  cheering,  Mr.  Wilson 
removed  his  hat  and  addressed  the  crowd: 

"  Ladies  and  Gentlemen,  the  animal  before  you 
is  the  world-famous  Maud  S.,  whose  fastest  mile, 

36 


WILLIAM    H.   VANDERBILT    SELLS    MAUD    S. 

as  well  as  her  combined  record,  has  never  been 
approached  by  any  living  horse,  mare,  or  gelding 
in  the  world.  She  was  bred  at  the  Woodburn  Farm, 
which  establishment  has  furnished  not  only  Maud  S., 
but  is  represented  on  every  first-class  breeding  farm 
in  the  United  States  and  other  countries.  Her  driver, 
W.  W.  Bair  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  is  only  a  little  less 
famous  than  the  mare  he  has  so  gracefully  driven. 
Her  owner,  Mr.  Robert  Bonner  of  New  York,  is 
the  only  gentleman  who  has  ever  owned  two  trotting 
kings  and  a  queen,  Dexter,  Rarus,  and  Maud  S.,  and 
he  only  keeps  them  to  fill  stalls  in  a  gentleman's 
private  stable.  The  officers  of  the  Kentucky  Trot- 
ting Horse  Breeders'  Association  wish  to  thank 
Mr.  Bonner  for  this  performance." 

Mr.  Wilson  handed  me  the  manuscript  of  his  little 
speech  and  I  quote  from  it.  It  was  not  intended  to 
have  any  speeches,  but  Mr.  Wilson  seized  the  bit 
and  was  off  before  he  could  be  restrained.  Scores 
of  ladies,  the  bluest  of  Kentucky  blood,  gathered 
around  Maud  S.  when  she  was  being  cooled  out  and 
asked  for  the  privilege  of  touching  her  nose  and  for 
a  hair  from  her  tail.  Mr.  Bonner's  first  congratula- 
tory dispatch  was  to  Wm.  H.  Vanderbilt,  and  one 
of  the  messages  received  by  him  was  from  the  owner 
of  Jay-eye-see: 

"  RACINE,  Wis.,  November  n,  1884. 
"  To  Robert  Bonner,  Lexington,  Ky. 

"  Allow  me  to  congratulate  you  on  the  wonderful 
performance  of  your  great  mare,  Maud  S. 

"J.  J.  CASE," 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

It  was  arranged  for  Bair  to  take  the  mare  to  Cin- 
cinnati for  the  winter,  and  the  next  day  Mr.  Bonner 
and  myself  started  for  New  York.  Robert  Bon- 
ner's  success  as  a  record  hunter  put  him  in  rare  good 
humor,  and  at  every  place  where  the  train  stopped 
he  was  an  object  of  interest  to  the  assembled  people. 
This  reminds  me  of  another  incident  of  travel.  We 
were  on  the  way  from  Lexington  to  New  York  and 
there  was  a  head-on  collision  in  one  of  the  tunnels 
of  West  Virginia.  We  were  compelled  to  take 
shelter  in  a  mountain  tavern,  and  Senator  John  S. 
Williams  shared  the  one  decent  room  with  us.  About 
nine  o'clock  the  people  from  the  mountain  hamlets 
gathered  around  the  hotel  and  General  Williams 
was  flattered  at  the  thought  that  it  was  a  personal 
tribute  to  him,  as  one  of  the  regiments  commanded 
by  him  in  the  Civil  War  was  enlisted  from  that 
section.  He  was  somewhat  put  out  when  the  general 
call  was  for  Robert  Bonner.  The  owner  of  Dexter 
and  Maud  S.  was  of  more  interest  to  them  than  an 
ex-general  in  the  Confederate  Army,  or  the  holder 
of  a  commission  to  the  United  States  Senate. 

Maud  S.  got  through  the  winter  all  right  at  Ches- 
ter Park,  and  was  again  put  in  training  for  an  effort 
against  time. 


CHAPTER    V 

THE    STRUGGLE   TO    HOLD   THE   THRONE 

MR.  CASE,  in  the  summer  of  1884,  professed  anxiety 
to  test  with  Maud  S.  the  speed  of  Jay-eye-see,  and 
I  told  him  there  could  be  no  objection  to  starting 
the  gelding  on  the  same  track  for  a  cup  any  day  that 
Maud  S.  elected  to  start  against  the  watch.  Com- 
petition for  cups  was  open  to  all,  and  even  if  it  was 
the  wish  to  bar  Jay-eye-see  it  could  not  be  done.  An 
effort  was  made  to  get  Jay-eye-see  ready  for  the  duel, 
but  he  went  wrong  and  there  was  great  distress  in  the 
Racine  camp. 

It  was  on  November  25,  1884,  that  W.  H.  Craw- 
ford wrote  me : 

"  Mr.  Case  has  stiffened  up  on  price  again,  Tod- 
hunter  having  written  him  he  could  sell,  he  thought, 
to  Mr.  B.  There  is  always  some  old  blatherskite 
ready  to  prevent  others  if  they  cannot  accomplish 
anything  themselves.  I  have  no  reason  to  think 
that  the  little  horse  is  able  to  lower  Maud  S.'s  present 
record  except  his  performance  at  Belmont  Park.  I 
believe  a  grand  event  can  be  arranged  for  next 


summer." 


July  u,   1885,  William  Edwards,  President  of 
the  Cleveland  Driving  Park,  wrote  me : 

39 


RECOLLECTIONS   OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

"  I  enclose  night  key,  an  article  that  such  an  exem- 
plary young  man  as  yourself  hardly  needs.  Maud  S. 
arrived  here  in  fine  shape  and  looks  hearty  and  well. 
Mr.  Gordon  has  tendered  the  use  of  his  Park  and 
ground." 

Under  date  of  July  17  Secretary  Wm.  B.  Fasig 
wrote  me : 

"  Mr.  Bonner  tells  me  to  write  to  you  for  in- 
formation as  to  how  to  word  my  advertisements 
regarding  Maud  S.  He  says  the  matter  was  ar- 
ranged by  yourself  at  Lexington,  Ky.,  last  fall,  and 
that  he  wants  the  advertisement  in  the  same  language. 
Maud  S.  will  beat  the  record  sure.  She  went  better 
to-day,  I  think,  than  I  ever  saw  her." 

The  day  advertised  for  the  performance  was  July 
30,  1885,  and  the  crowd  was  very  large  and  on  tiptoe 
with  expectation.  From  a  notebook  used  on  the  occa- 
sion I  glean: 

"  At  5.15  P.M.  Maud  S.  was  jogged  the  reverse 
way  of  the  track,  and  then  was  allowed  to  step  a 
mile  in  2.28^.  At  six  o'clock  Splan  appeared  be- 
hind Mr.  Gordon's  runner,  Dart,  and  the  crowd 
shouted,  '  Bring  out  Maud  S.  We  want  to  go 
home.'  The  carriages  along  the  rail  were  seven 
rows  deep,  and  there  was  not  a  vacant  seat  in  the 
stands.  The  flags  hung  to  their  masts.  On  the  first 
score  Maud  S.  broke  and  was  pulled  up  and  came 
back.  Then  she  got  the  word  all  right  and  trotted 
to  the  quarter  pole  in  32!,  and  had  plain  sailing 
on  the  back  stretch,  reaching  the  half-mile  pole  in 

40 


THE    STRUGGLE    TO    HOLD    THE    THRONE 

1.04!.  She  trotted  fast  around  the  upper  turn  and 
the  watches  split  at  the  three-quarter  pole  in  1.35^. 
Down  the  home  stretch  Bair  touched  the  great  mare 
with  the  whip  and  the  official  time  for  the  mile  was 
2.o8f." 

I  was  in  the  timers'  stand  with  Geo.  W.  Short  and 
N.  L.  Hunting,  and  kept  my  eyes  on  the  watches,  and 
know  that  the  mare  was  not  favored.  The  judges 
were  Thomas  Axworthy,  C.  F.  Emery,  and  William 
Edwards,  and,  when  the  latter  announced  that  on 
a  track  which  the  directors  do  not  consider  fast, 
Maud  S.  had  trotted  to  a  record  of  2.o8f ,  there  were 
thunders  of  applause.  Maud  S.  was  decorated  with 
a  floral  collar  and  Bair  was  handed  a  bouquet.  The 
dining-room  in  the  Edwards  mansion  that  evening 
was  full  of  good  cheer  and  ladies  vied  with  gentle- 
men in  praising  the  performance  of  Maud  S. 

It  was  in  1880  that  Maud  S.  first  obtained  cham- 
pionship honors  as  a  trotter,  and,  with  the  exception 
of  a  single  day  when  Jay-eye-see  took  a  record  of 
2.10  at  Providence  in  1884,  sne  held  her  place  at  the 
head  of  the  list  for  eleven  years.  Her  2.o8f  at 
Cleveland  was  the  best  to  high-wheel,  plain-axle 
sulky  on  a  regulation  track  until  in  November,  1904. 
She  was  in  truth  an  epoch-making  mare,  and  he  who 
writes  history  cannot  do  otherwise  than  accord  to 
her  liberal  space. 

Mr.  Bonner  drove  Maud  S.  to  high-wheel  wagon 
over  his  three-quarter  track  in  2.13^,  and  Mr.  Van- 
derbilt  drove  her  to  top  road  wagon  in  double  harness 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

at  Fleetwood  Park  in  2.15^.  The  great  chestnut 
was  not  given  a  chance  to  reproduce  herself  until 
it  was  too  late,  and  all  attempts  at  fertilization  failed. 
After  Mr.  Bonner's  death  she  was  sent  to  Shults- 
hurst  to  be  bred  to  Axworthy,  and,  while  on  a  visit 
to  that  famous  farm,  was  fatally  stricken.  The  af- 
fection of  Mr.  Vanderbilt  for  the  mare  was  real, 
and  he  kept  her  on  the  turf  to  please  the  public,  al- 
though by  so  doing  he  subjected  himself  to  annoy- 
ance. I  quote  from  a  letter  written  October  10, 
1883,  to  a  gentleman  who  was  on  the  best  of  terms 
with  Mr.  Vanderbilt,  and  who  brought  it  to  my  office  : 


^  mare   (Maud  S.)    is  splendid.     The  man 

Grant  wanted  to  get  back  to  his  wife,  and  I  sent  the 
mare  with  him  as  I  meant  to  winter  her  there  (  Ches- 
ter Park).  I  have  given  her  in  charge  to  Stone 
and  not  to  Bair.  He  says  that  she  will  trot  in  2.08 
next  spring  before  July  i.  There  has  not  been  any 
doubt  about  her  trotting  in  that  time  last  spring,  in 
my  mind,  but  Bair  got  the  big  head  and  thought 
that  he  could  do  as  he  pleased;  of  course  I  had  to 
disabuse  him.  He  is  a  good  second  man,  but  runs 
away  with  himself  when  he  gets  the  lead.  The  mare, 
as  they  all  say,  is  finer  than  they  ever  saw  her.  Dan 
Mace  thinks  he  can  drive  her  and  Aldine  in  2.11, 
but  there  she  is  to  speak  for  herself.  If  nothing 
happens  to  her,  I  think  she  will  trot  very  fast  next 
spring  and  make  a  record  that  you  and  I  will  take 
some  years  to  see  wiped  out. 

"  Yours  truly, 
"  W.  H.  VANDERBILT." 


THE    STRUGGLE    TO    HOLD    THE    THRONE 

After  the  Cleveland  performance  friction  rose  be- 
tween Mr.  Bonner  and  Bair,  and  Maud  S.  was  placed 
in  the  hands  of  John  Murphy  to  jog  on  the  farm 
track  at  Tarrytown.  Bair  resented  his  dismissal,  and 
he  talked  to  the  Philadelphia  Times  foolishly : 

"  I  would  not  work  under  Mr.  Bonner  again  for 
anything  he  could  offer  me.  He  takes  too  much  of 
my  time  and  has  said  that  her  quarters  under  my 
management  were  irregular,  and  that  I  once  allowed 
her  to  trot  the  first  quarter  in  30^  seconds — a  2.01 
gait.  That  is  not  true.  Mr.  Bonner  could  not  regu- 
late her  pace  if  he  had  a  watch  in  his  hand.  I  drove 
Maud  S.  for  eight  years  and  she  never  made  a  bad 
performance  while  under  my  control." 

Later  Bair  regretted  the  way  he  had  rushed  into 
the  newspapers. 


43 


CHAPTER  VI 

JTAY-EYE-SEE   A.ND   SOME   MATCH   RACES 

JAY-EYE-SEE  was  a  black  gelding  bred  by  Richard 
West,  Edge  Hill  Farm,  Georgetown,  Ky. ;  foaled  in 
1878,  and  by  Dictator,  dam  Midnight  by  Pilot  Jr.; 
second  dam,  Twilight,  thoroughbred  daughter  of 
Lexington.  I  saw  him  in  the  pasture  when  he  was 
considered  a  runt,  and  Harrison  Durkee,  owner  of 
Dictator,  thought  so  little  of  his  half-interest  in  the 
gelding  that  he  sold  it  for  $75.  Mr.  Case  paid  $350 
for  the  little  horse,  and  the  first  time  I  saw  him  in  a 
race  was  at  Chicago,  July  15,  1882.  The  stake  was 
for  four-year-olds,  and  Jay-eye-see  was  the  favorite 
over  Bronze,  Waiting,  Jim  Booman,  Adelaide,  and 
Ed  Geers.  I  was  one  of  the  judges  and  have  before 
me  the  notes  of  the  changing  positions  of  contest. 
In  the  first  heat  Waiting  led  from  start  to  finish,  and 
the  time  was  slow,  2.28i.  In  the  second  heat  Wait- 
ing won  by  half  a  length  from  Bronze,  and  the  time 
was  2.25! .  In  the  third  heat  Bronze  beat  Waiting 
by  two  lengths  in  2.254.  Budd  Doble  now  appeared 
behind  Jay-eye-see,  and  the  gelding  finished  second 
to  Bronze  in  2.26^.  In  the  fifth  heat  Jay-eye-see 
revealed  his  true  form  and  won  in  2.22f,  In  the 
sixth  heat  Waiting  barely  saved  his  distance  and  Jay- 
eye-see  won  by  half  a  length  from  Bronze  in  2.23!-. 

44 


JAY-EYE-SEE   AND   SOME   MATCH    RACES 

The  race  was  now  conceded  to  the  black  gelding,  but 
President  C.  K.  Dow,  who  acted  as  starter,  carelessly 
gave  the  word  in  the  seventh  heat  with  Jay-eye-see 
on  a  break.  Doble  was  made  angry  by  the  send-off, 
and,  instead  of  giving  his  undivided  attention  to 
his  horse,  turned  round  in  his  sulky  to  shout  words 
of  censure.  Mr.  Dow  was  so  unnerved  by  the  inci- 
dent that  he  stood  with  his  back  to  the  grand  stand 
and  looked  into  vacancy.  I  followed  the  race  and 
placed  the  horses  as  they  finished.  Jay-eye-see  trotted 
fast  when  he  regained  his  stride,  but  the  gap  was  too 
big  to  be  closed.  Bronze  was  half  dead  with  fatigue 
and  Waiting  staggered  under  the  wire  in  2.30.  Both 
Doble  and  Case  came  to  the  judges'  stand  and  ex- 
citedly wanted  to  know  if  the  heat  was  to  stand. 
I  told  them  that  under  the  rules  the  race  was  finished, 
and  remarked  that  Mr.  Dow  regretted  the  unfortu- 
nate start  more  than  anyone.  "  Not  more  than  me," 
hotly  rejoined  Mr.  Case,  "  because  your  decision 
takes  $5000  out  of  my  pocket." 

The  five-year-old  form  of  Jay-eye-see  was  sensa- 
tional. He  defeated  such  horses  as  Charley  Ford, 
Phil  Thompson,  Majolica,  Director,  and  Clemmie  G., 
and  at  Providence,  September  13,  reduced  his  record 
to  2.  i of.  Then  he  was  matched  against  St.  Julien 
2.ni  and  the  largest  crowd  ever  seen  at  Fleetwood 
Park  was  gathered  there  September  29,  1883,  to  wit- 
ness the  duel.  Mr.  Case  arrived  late  upon  the  scene, 
and  for  some  reason  was  reluctant  to  start.  One  of 
his  objections  was  to  the  track,  and  I  walked  around 

45 


RECOLLECTIONS   OF   MEN  AND   HORSES 

it  with  him  to  convince  him  that,  although  heavy,  it 
was  safe.  President  David  Bonner  then  said  to  him : 
"  The  thousands  of  eager  people  up  there  expect  you 
to  start,  and,  if  you  refuse  to  do  so,  I  will  not  answer 
for  the  consequences." 

The  horses  were  called,  and,  as  St.  Julien  was  a 
shade  off  in  form,  Jay-eye-see  won  easily  in  2.20^, 
2.i8i,  2.19.  The  race  disappointed  the  multitude. 
As  a  six-year-old  Jay-eye-see  trotted  exhibition  miles 
at  Belmont  Park  in  2.11,  2.ioi,  and  experts  re- 
garded this  as  better  than  his  mile  at  Providence, 
August  i,  1884,  in  2.10.  As  the  2.10  was  better 
than  the  2.ioi  of  Maud  S.,  Jay-eye-see  occupied  the 
throne  for  one  day.  In  the  autumn  of  1884  Jay-eye- 
see  was  taken  with  a  chill  at  Kalamazoo,  and  was 
never  himself  after  that.  He  went  lame  and  his  gait 
was  shifted  to  a  pace,  and  his  record  at  that  way 
of  going  is  2.06^. 

Under  date  of  April  18,  1885,  Mr.  Case  wrote 
me,  enclosing  check  for  $2500: 

"I  notice  in  your  issue  of  iyth  inst.  that  John 
Murphy  offers  to  match  Maxey  Cobb  to  trot  a  race 
against  Harry  Wilkes,  on  terms  and  for  amount  men- 
tioned, and  adds  that  he  is  not  desirous  of  matching 
him  against  a  horse  with  a  record  slower  than  2.13^. 
I  judge  this  hit  must  be  aimed  at  either  Maud  S., 
Jay-eye-see,  or  Phallas,  and,  supposing  that  Mr. 
Murphy  is  acting  for  the  owner  of  Maxey  Cobb, 
Mr.  Cohnfeld,  I  will  say  that  in  case  Mr.  France 
does  not  accept  Mr.  Murphy's  challenge,  I  will  ac- 
cept it  and  trot  one  of  my  horses  in  place  of  Harry 

46 


JAY-EYE-SEE   AND   SOME   MATCH   RACES 

Wilkes.  Or,  in  case  Mr.  France  does  accept  and 
trots  Harry  Wilkes  against  Maxey  Cobb,  I  will  offer 
to  increase  the  stake  or  purse  one-third  and  trot  one 
of  my  horses  in  the  race  on  the  terms  mentioned  in 
the  challenge." 

Following  this  W.  C.  France  came  to  my  office 
and  dictated  a  proposition: 

"  I  will  trot  Harry  Wilkes  against  Maxey  Cobb 
and  Phallas,  three  or  five  races,  commencing  at  the 
Cleveland  Circuit  Meeting,  for  a  stake  of  $1000 
each,  each  track  over  which  a  race  is  trotted  to  add 
$3000;  the  stake  and  added  money  to  be  divided 
into  three  parts,  fifty,  thirty,  and  twenty  per  cent.  If 
Trinket  wishes  to  come  in,  and  if  Mr.  Cohnfeld  and 
Mr.  Case  will  agree,  I  am  willing  to  admit  her  to  the 
race.  While  I  know  Harry  Wilkes  to  be  a  good 
horse,  I  do  not  regard  him  as  the  equal  of  Jay-eye- 
see,  and  therefore  bar  the  little  black  gelding  from 
the  stake." 

Mr.  Nathan  Straus  also  had  the  match  fever,  and 
June  17,  1885,  Phallas  beat  Majolica  at  Fleetwood 
Park  for  $5000.  I  shall  not  attempt  to  follow  the  dis- 
cussions growing  out  of  the  challenges,  because  space 
is  limited.  I  simply  wish  to  record  the  fact  that  the 
match  talk  excited  the  public  mind,  and  thousands 
were  thus  attracted  to  the  trotting  horse,  who  other- 
wise would  not  have  given  a  thought  to  him.  A 
long  becalmed  sea  is  destructive  of  sport.  Phallas, 
who  was  by  Dictator  out  of  Betsy  Trotwood  by 

47 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

Clark  Chief,  became  the  champion  stallion  when  he 
trotted  to  a  record  of  2.13!  at  Chicago,  July  14, 
1884.  Maxey  Cobb  succeeded  him  September  30, 
1884,  at  Providence,  with  a  record  of  2.13^. 

Phallas  was  a  very  determined,  but  not  a  smooth- 
gaited  horse,  and  the  campaign  told  upon  him. 
From  Cleveland,  Ohio,  October  4,  1885,  W.  H. 
Crawford  wrote  me : 

"  Phallas  pulled  up  very  lame  and  will  never  start 
again.  He  has  had  a  weak  tendon  for  over  a  year, 
but  Mr.  Case  was  inclined  to  train  him  this  year 
in  order  to  settle  the  stallion  supremacy,  knowing 
that  if  he  could  be  brought  to  start  on  anything  short 
of  three  legs,  he  would  beat  Maxey  Cobb.  There 
never  was  another  owner  of  a  stallion  who  would 
have  had  the  nerve  to  do  it.  Every  time  he  was 
worked  Either  expected  to  see  it  come,  and  Friday 
over  a  heavy  track  did  the  business.  We  made  a 
mistake  in  trotting  Harry  Wilkes,  but  there  was  so 
much  to  be  gained  in  beating  the  best  representative 
of  the  George  Wilkes  family,  we  risked  it.  You 
know  now  why  I  was  so  timid  about  backing  Phallas 
on  the  4th  of  July,  and  why  I  felt  so  nervous  about 
the  result." 

Under  date  of  September  20,  1884,  Mr.  Craw- 
ford wrote  from  Cleveland : 

"  I  am  glad  to  say  there  is  nothing  serious 
the  matter  with  Jay-eye-see;  only  a  slight  cold 
brought  on  by  a  sudden  change  of  temperature,  from 
1 00°  to  55°  in  24  hours,  at  a  time  when  he  was 

48 


JAY-EYE-SEE    AND    SOME   MATCH    RACES 

prostrated  from  excessive  work  and  travel,  which 
could  not  be  avoided  without  breaking  faith  with 
parties  who  had  been  very  liberal  in  their  dealings 
with  us.  I  believe  he  will  be  on  edge  again  by  Octo- 
ber i.  Can  get  refusal  in  shape  now  at  any  time." 

Previous  to  this  I  had  telegraphed  Mr.  Case: 

"  I  timed  Maud  S.  this  afternoon  a  third  mile 
in  2. 1  if,  wind  strong  and  rain  sprinkling,  making 
the  performance,  in  the  estimation  of  good  judges, 
two  seconds  slow." 

The  reply  of  Mr.  Case  was  by  letter: 

"  I  am  glad  to  hear  that  the  grand  mare  Maud  S. 
is  doing  well.  I  think  it  quite  possible  for  her  to 
still  lower  her  unparalleled  record.  Jay-eye-see  is  also 
a  phenomenal  trotter,  kind  as  a  kitten,  and  as  sound 
as  can  be,  and  I  think,  when  the  right  time  comes, 
will  prove  himself  king  of  all  trotters.  He  is  young 
and  has  plenty  of  time  with  good  luck  to  prepare 
to  do  his  best  at  record  breaking.  He  is  now  under 
contract  to  Mr.  Crawford,  whose  interest  is  to  make 
the  most  money  out  of  him  possible  this  season.  If 
circumstances  favorable  for  lowering  his  record  do 
not  come  his  way  this  season,  I  hope  to  give  him 
such  opportunities  next  season.  He  has  now  earned 
over  $25,000  this  season.  The  long  shipment  from 
Prospect  Park,  New  York,  to  Minneapolis,  and  re- 
turn to  Racine,  and  trotting  three  exhibitions  in  eight 
days  has  tired  him,  but  he  is  now  in  my  home  stable 
and  resting,  and  I  trust  will  meet  his  future  engage- 
ments with  credit  and  no  harm  to  himself." 

Mr.  Case  not  only  met  my  little  bluff,  but  tried 

49 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

to  go  me  one  better.    My  telegram,  however,  made  it 
easy  for  Crawford  to  secure  an  option. 

In  a  letter  of  September  27  I  said  to  Mr.  Craw- 
ford: 

"  Use  your  judgment,  but  the  contract  must  be 
such  as  will  hold  legally  as  well  as  morally.  The  sum 
we  agreed  upon  to  bind  the  option  was  $1000.  Pay 
this  and  the  money  will  be  paid  to  you  on  transfer 
of  option  contract.  As  the  season  is  getting  late  it 
seems  to  me  it  would  be  advisable  to  close  the  matter 
as  soon  as  we  can.  Maud  S.  was  driven  staying-up 
miles  yesterday  in  2.21,  2.11,  2.12!.  She  ought  to 
be  able  to  go  for  a  record  about  October  15." 

My  insistence  disclosed  a  weak  spot  in  Jay-eye-see. 
The  gelding  was  more  seriously  injured  than  the 
public  knew,  and  finally  Crawford  wrote  me  from 
St.  Louis  that  the  horse  had  a  slight  ailment  and 
would  be  priced  at  $50,000. 

Jay-eye-see  never  regained  his  old  form,  but,  under 
date  of  April  14,  1886,  Mr.  Case  wrote  me  from 
Racine: 

"  Jay-eye-see  and  Phallas  are  as  fine  and  sound  as 
can  be.  I  am  watching  for  some  enthusiastic  man 
with  a  chip  on  his  shoulder." 

I  knew  to  the  contrary,  but  why  call  the  bluff? 

The  Hickory  Grove  Farm  of  Jerome  I.  Case  was 
one  of  the  most  famous  of  its  day,  but  now  is  a  mem- 
ory. December  22,  1891,  I  received  the  following 
telegram : 

50 


JAY-EYE-SEE    AND    SOME    MATCH    RACES 

"  Father  died  this  morning.  Funeral  will  take  place 
Thursday  afternoon. 

"  JACKSON  I.  CASE." 

The  flood  tide  of  fortune  had  passed,  and  the  once 
proud,  but  humbled,  man  welcomed  the  rest  that 
enfolded  him  in  the  early  dawn  of  the  Christmas 
festival. 


CHAPTER  VII 

EDWIN   THORNE   AND   MAMBRINO   CHIEF 

IT  was  on  the  4th  of  July,  1870,  that  my  eyes  first 
rested  on  Thorndale.  This  grand  place  of  600  acres 
in  Dutchess  County,  N.  Y.,  fourteen  miles  from 
Poughkeepsie,  had  but  recently  passed  into  the  pos- 
session of  Mr.  Edwin  Thorne,  and  he  had  filled  the 
stables,  which  formerly  sheltered  shorthorns,  with 
trotting  horses  of  rich  pedigree. 

I  have  before  me  a  letter,  dated  August  18,  1884, 
signed  Edwin  Thorne : 

"  David  Bonner  has  promised  to  pay  me  a  visit 
in  company  with  Albert  C.  Hall  and  Alley  Bonner. 
Why  can  you  not  arrange  it  with  them  and  come  up 
on  Friday  or  Saturday  of  this  week  and  remain  over 
Sunday  with  me.  If  they,  one  or  all,  can't  come, 
why  will  you  not  come  solus?  I  can  then  give  you 
the  facts  you  refer  to  in  relation  to  Mambrino  Chief, 
and  also  show  you  James  B.  Clay's  letters  to  me  re- 
ferring to  him." 

The  shade  of  the  oaks  and  maples  was  grateful 
and  the  murmur  of  the  waterfall  in  front  of  the 
mansion  was  soothing  to  excited  nerves.  Edwin 
Thorne  had  an  artistic  eye,  and  in  his  picture  gallery 
were  the  works  of  such  distinguished  painters  as  Jules 
Dupre,  Rosa  Bonheur,  E.  VanMarke,  J.  L,  Gerome, 

B* 


EDWIN   THORNE   AND    MAMBRINO    CHIEF 

Th.  Rousseau,  Daubigny,  Corot,  Diaz,  Jaque,  and 
Von  Bergen.  The  first  Thorne  settled  in  Dutchess 
County,  N.  Y.,  in  1725,  and  for  a  century  the  estate 
has  been  known  as  Thorndale.  It  was  in  1851  that 
Jonathan  Thorne  began  to  improve  the  place  for  a 
summer  residence,  and  he  sent  his  son  Samuel  to 
Europe  to  buy  the  best  shorthorn  animals  that  could 
be  found.  One  of  the  purchases  was  Grand  Duke, 
and  the  price,  1000  guineas,  was  the  highest  ever 
paid  up  to  that  time  for  an  animal  of  the  breed. 
Three  cows  of  the  Dutchess  tribe  were  also  pur- 
chased, and  from  time  to  time  the  herd  was  strength- 
ened by  importation.  So  prominent  was  the  Thorn- 
dale  herd  that  in  1861  fifteen  head  were  exported 
to  Ireland.  In  1867  the  herd  was  sold  to  J.  O. 
Sheldon  of  Geneva,  N.  Y.,  and  by  him  to  Walcott 
&  Campbell,  who  sold  one  cow  under  the  hammer 
for  $40,600.  After  this  the  farm  passed  to  Edwin 
Thorne,  who  made  it  the  home  of  trotting  horses 
and  Jersey  cattle. 

The  leading  stallion  at  Thorndale  in  1884  was 
the  bay  horse  Thorndale,  15  J  hands,  by  Alexander's 
Abdallah,  dam  Dolly  by  Mambrino  Chief.  After 
being  kept  steadily  in  the  stud  for  eight  years,  Thorn- 
dale,  in  1876,  was  placed  in  the  hands  of  Budd 
Doble,  and  he  won  every  race  in  which  he  started, 
taking  a  record  of  2.22^.  It  was  in  the  autumn  of 
this  year  that  I  accepted  the  urgent  invitation  of 
Colonel  W.  S.  King  to  come  to  the  Minneapolis  fair. 
I  was  met  at  the  railway  station  and  rapidly  driven 

53 


RECOLLECTIONS   OF   MEN  AND    HORSES 

to  one  of  the  finest  residences  in  the  city,  and  hastily 
introduced  to  the  hostess.  Colonel  King  did  not  let 
grass  grow  under  his  feet,  and  after  dinner  returned 
with  another  gentleman  in  charge,  Mr.  Edwin 
Thorne,  with  whom  I  was  not  then  on  good  terms. 
Colonel  King  took  but  a  few  moments: 

"  My  dear  madam,  I  found  this  gentleman  at 
the  hotel  waiting  for  a  room,  and,  as  the  prospect  was 
not  bright,  I  insisted  on  his  coming  with  me.  I 
now  leave  him  with  you,  and  I  am  sure  that  you  will 
take  good  care  of  him." 

The  lady  was  a  little  embarrassed,  but  tried  to 
conceal  it.  When  I  stepped  from  the  drawing-room, 
she  followed  me  and  explained : 

"  I  have  several  relatives  to  care  for  during  the 
fair,  and  the  only  spare  room  was  assigned  to  you. 
I  want  to  do  the  best  I  can  for  your  New  York 
friend,  but "  and  she  shrugged  her  shoulders. 

I  quickly  replied:  "  I  will  gladly  share  my  room 
with  Mr.  Thorne."  I  stated  the  case  to  Mr.  Thorne, 
and  he  gave  me  his  hand  and  said:  "  We  will  forget 
the  past  and  sleep  in  the  same  bed,"  which  we  did. 

In  1884  Mr.  Thorne  was  able  to  say  in  his  cat- 
alogue : 

"  Thorndale  and  Gep.  Wilkes  are  the  only  two 
sires,  living  or  dead,  with  records  below  2.30,  who 
have  two  representatives  with  records  below  2.20." 

One  of  these  2.20  trotters  was  the  chestnut  geld- 
ing Edwin  Thorne,  who  in  the  summer  of  1882  won 

54 


EDWIN   THORNE   AND    MAMBRINO    CHIEF 

at  Boston  the  $10,000  purse,  beating  Clingstone, 
Santa  Claus,  and  Fanny  Witherspoon.  His  dam, 
Lady  Lightfoot,  was  by  Ashland,  son  of  Mambrino 
Chief  and  Utilla  by  imp.  Margrave.  Mr.  Clay 
presented  Ashland  as  a  yearling  to  Mr.  Thorne,  and, 
after  being  brought  to  Dutchess  County,  the  colt  was 
struck  by  lightning  and  nearly  paralyzed.  When 
three  years  old,  Ashland  was  traded  to  Geo.  T. 
Hitchcock,  who  drove  him  home,  a  distance  of  28 
miles. 

Mambrino  Paymaster,  the  sire  of  Mambrino 
Chief,  was  at  one  time  sold  for  $90,  and  his 
stud  fee  was  $2.50.  The  dam  of  Mambrino 
Chief  was  a  strongly  made,  dark  brown  mare  stand- 
ing about  15.2,  a  little  angular,  possessed  of  nerve 
force,  and  of  more  than  ordinary  speed.  She  had 
several  foals,  three  by  Mambrino  Paymaster.  Goliah, 
who  stood  i6J  hands,  could  trot  better  than  2.40. 
Mambrino  Chief,  his  brother,  was  foaled  in  1844, 
the  property  of  Richard  Eldridge,  who  sold  him  as 
a  three-year-old  to  Warren  Williams.  Then  he 
passed  to  G.  T.  Williams,  who  sold  him  to  James 
M.  Cockroft.  Only  common  mares  were  bred  to 
him  in  New  York,  and  up  to  1854,  he  was  never  in 
the  hands  of  a  regular  trainer,  although  he  was  a 
natural  trotter.  He  trotted  the  Washington  Hollow 
track  in  2.36,  and  was  timed  a  quarter  in  37  seconds. 
In  1853  James  B.  Clay  visited  Thorndale  to  inspect 
the  cattle,  and  while  there  asked  for  a  stallion  that 
would  do  to  cross  on  well-bred  Kentucky  mares.  Mr, 

55 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF    MEN   AND    HORSES 

Thorne  suggested  Mambrino  Chief,  because  he  liked 
his  strength  and  his  way  of  going,  although  his  feet 
were  not  the  best,  being  subject  to  quarter  crack. 
Other  parties  recommended  Burr's  Washington,  the 
sire  of  Lady  Washington,  and  Mr.  Clay  went  home 
in  doubt.  January  2,  1854,  Mr.  Clay  wrote  to  Mr. 
Thorne  to  buy  Washington  at  $3000  if  he  liked  him. 
Mr.  Thorne  frankly  replied  that  he  did  not  like  the 
horse  and  then  Mr.  Clay  requested  him  to  buy  Mam- 
brino Chief  at  $4000.  At  first  he  had  declared  that 
he  would  not  give  more  than  $3000  for  any  horse 
in  existence,  but  changed  his  mind  and  sent  Josiah 
Downing,  "  a  good  judge  of  horse  flesh,"  to  Dutchess 
County  to  ride  the  stallion  to  Lexington,  Mr. 
Thorne  wanted  Downing  to  see  Washington  and  he 
took  him  to  Tim  Jackson's  place,  Jamaica,  L.  I.,  for 
that  purpose.  It  was  early  in  February  and  the  stal- 
lion was  found  in  the  barnyard  looking  quite  rough. 
As  soon  as  Downing  saw  the  horse  he  exclaimed: 

"  Is  that  the  brute?  If  he  is  bought,  a  nigger  will 
have  to  lead  him  into  Lexington — I  won't." 

"We  then  went  to  look  at  Biggart's  Rattler," 
said  Mr.  Thorne,  "  and  found  him  tied  to  a  post 
in  front  of  a  tavern.  Biggart  was  inside  and  drunk. 
Downing  did  not  like  the  horse,  and  preferred  Mam- 
brino Chief  to  every  stallion  that  he  saw." 

Mr.  Clay  wrote  to  Mr.  Thorne: 

"  I  send  you  check  for  $2000  and  note  for  $2000. 
I  am  glad  I  got  Mambrino  Chief,  as  I  preferred 


EDWIN   THORNE   AND    MAMBRINO    CHIEF 

him  to  Washington.  If  Downing  has  not  started, 
please  hurry  him  off,  as  it  is  possible  I  will  match 
the  Chief  against  a  horse  here." 

As  Mr.  Clay  had  but  recently  purchased  Ashland, 
he  did  not  wish  to  pay  all  cash,  and  Mr.  Thorne  guar- 
anteed his  note.  In  a  later  letter  Mr.  Clay  wrote: 

"  Our  people  are  disposed  to  brag  and  back  their 
brag  with  money.  There  are  several  Canadian  stal- 
lions here,  which  are  small  and  have  no  form.  If 
I  think  I  can  beat  them  with  Mambrino  Chief,  will 
not  back  out  when  they  banter  me." 

"February  26,  1854:  I  am  happy  to  advise  you 
that  Mambrino  Chief  arrived  on  Tuesday,  although 
thin,  in  fine  condition.  He  surpasses  expectations, 
and  twenty  mares  were  engaged  to  him  within  an 
hour.  Will  limit  him  to  80  mares  at  $25." 

"March  5,  1854:  Mambrino  Chief  will  have 
earned  $2000  before  August  i.  I  will  breed  myself 
but  four  mares,  one  by  Lexington,  the  horse  that 
ran  in  the  $20,000  stakes  at  New  Orleans.  There 
are  several  thoroughbred  mares  and  fine  trotters,  so 
your  colt  will  be  a  fine  one  in  blood." 

"April  27,  1854:  We  had  quite  a  display  of 
horses  on  court  day,  with  Mambrino  Chief  at  the 
head.  There  was  great  anxiety  to  see  him  move, 
but  I  have  adhered  to  the  resolution  that  harness  shall 
not  be  put  on  him  until  July  4.  I  want  to  have  one 
month  of  green  food  before  I  begin  to  train  and  test 
his  speed.  When  I  find  where  he  will  stop  the 
watch,  I  will  make  a  banter  of  from  $2000  to  $5000 

57 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF    MEN   AND    HORSES 

to  trot  him  against  any  horse  in  Kentucky,  two  mile 
heats.  The  impression  is  that  I  have  been  deceived. 
Some  people  don't  believe  he  was  ever  in  harness." 

"June  26,  1854:  The  parties  who  have  the  Ca- 
nadian have  raised  $2000  to  banter  my  horse  two 
mile  heats.  I  do  not  wish  to  race  the  Chief,  but  if 
public  banter  is  made,  it  would  injure  him  not  to 
accept.  Think  I  should  go  in  25<>pound  wagons. 
I  believe  weight  would  tell  against  the  Canadian." 

"August  20,  1854:  Yesterday,  to  the  disappoint- 
ment of  the  other  party,  I  closed  match  with  Pilot  Jr. 
for  $1000  a  side,  two  mile  heats.  People  were  say- 
ing that  I  was  afraid  to  accept.  I  have  no  scruples 
against  racing,  but  do  not  wish  to  engage  in  it  on 
account  of  the  boys.  A  new  quarter  crack  is  dis- 
couraging. I  will  use  soft  track  and  light  bar  shoe." 

"  October  7,  1854:  Pilot  Jr.  has  paid  forfeit  to 
Mambrino  Chief.  He  never  saw  the  day  that  the 
Chief  could  not  beat  him  any  distance.  This  will 
assure  the  success  of  Mambrino  Chief.  He  was 
never  broken  for  a  race  horse ;  cannot  catch ;  breaks 
bad  to  a  standstill;  hoofs  bad;  three  quarter 
cracks." 

"October  12,  1854:  I  made  public  exhibition. 
The  driver  of  Pilot  Jr.  got  here  and  was  much  dis- 
appointed because  he  could  not  show  his  skill.  Mam- 
brino Chief  jogged  a  mile  in  2.44  with  bad  break, 
and  last  half  in  1.19.  Could  have  gone,  I  think,  in 
2.25.  Many  people  were  present  and  all  were  satis- 
fied. I  want  Mambrino  Chief  to  get  new  hoofs  for 
next  season.  I  am  confident  he  could  make  2.30  if 
his  hoofs  were  right." 

58 


EDWIN   THORNE  AND   MAMBRINO   CHIEF 

"  1858 :  Mambrino  Chief  is  in  the  highest  repute. 
I  fear  his  wind  is  irreparably  injured.  It  is  my  opin- 
ion that  you  of  the  North  will  hereafter  come  to 
Kentucky  for  fast  horses. " 

"  1859:  The  old  horse  has  been  amiss  all  season, 
owing  to  too  much  having  been  required  of  him." 

The  introduction  of  the  foundation  sire,  Mam- 
brino Chief,  to  the  historical  groves  of  Ashland,  the 
old  home  of  the  great  orator  and  stateman,  Henry 
Clay,  created  some  friction,  but  the  results  were  far 
better  than  anticipated.  Pilot  Jr.,  the  rival  of  Mam- 
brino Chief,  also  founded  a  family  of  trotters. 

It  was  at  the  request  of  John  Smith  of  Cincinnati 
that  O.  W.  Dimmick  went  to  Lexington  to  drive 
Pilot  Jr.  in  the  match  against  Mambrino  Chief,  but 
the  Pilot  Jr.  party  paid  forfeit  before  his  arrival.  I 
find  in  one  of  my  old  notebooks  the  brief  report  of 
a  talk  with  Dimmick: 

"When  all  right,  Pilot  Jr.  could  trot  in  2.35  or 
2.36.  He  was  quite  unruly  at  times.  When  I  worked 
him  at  Mobile,  he  cut  his  quarters.  We  did  not 
know  anything  about  boots  in  those  days." 

Pilot  Jr.  was  the  age  of  Mambrino  Chief,  each 
having  been  born  in  1844.  Mambrino  Chief  was 
the  larger  horse,  and  his  success  was  greater  in  Ken- 
tucky than  Pilot  Jr.,  although  the  latter,  going  to 
Woodburn  in  1858,  had  the  advantage  of  excellent 
mares.  Neither  was  a  reliable  horse  in  a  track 
contest. 

The  deepest  of  shadows  was  gathering  over  the 

59 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF    MEN   AND    HORSES 

land  and  Mr.  Clay's  last  letter  to  Mr.  Thorne  was 
in  1859: 

"  I  think  that  you  and  I,  after  Harper's  Ferry, 
will  have  to  shake  hands  across  the  line." 

After  the  Civil  War  Henry  C.  McDowell,  who 
married  a  granddaughter  of  Henry  Clay,  purchased 
Ashland,  and  restocked  it  with  trotting  horses. 

It  was  after  the  thrilling  1882  campaign  of  the 
chestnut  gelding  Edwin  Thorne  that  Mr.  Thorne 
wrote  me  a  somewhat  petulant  letter  in  relation  to  his 
namesake : 

"  He  is  as  sound  as  the  day  he  was  foaled,  hasn't 
an  out  about  him  anywhere,  even  the  wart  that  was 
on  his  side  has  disappeared.  He  is  being  driven 
from  six  to  eight  miles  a  day  and  was  never  in  bet- 
ter condition  for  winter  work.  He  weighed  1088 
pounds  a  few  days  since.  He  has  considerably  more 
than  paid  for  himself  since  I  bought  him.  My  barns 
are  well  filled  with  good  hay,  my  bins  are  full  of 
oats  and  bran,  my  cellars  are  well-stocked  with  sweet 
apples  and  carrots,  and  the  horse  is  not  for  sale." 

It  was  in  1870  that  I  published  a  lively  exchange 
of  compliments  between  Robert  Bonner  and  Edwin 
Thorne,  the  irritating  cause  being  the  speed  claimed 
for  the  mare  Gazelle  and  the  gelding  Joe  Elliott 
by  Edward  Everett.  I  give  an  extract  from  one  of 
Mr.  Bonner's  letters: 

"  Peerless  and  Bruno  have  trotted  quarters  in 
thirty  seconds — the  fastest  time  ever  made  for  a 

60 


EDWIN   THORNE   AND    MAMBRINO    CHIEF 

quarter;  but  they  have  not  yet  been  able  to  rival  the 
King,  and  I  would  suggest  that  before  Gazelle  under- 
takes to  do  it,  it  would  be  a  little  bit  easier  for  her 
first  to  make  an  attempt  to  obliterate  the  perform- 
ances of  Lady  Thorne,  Pocahontas,  Lady  Palmer, 
and  Joe  Elliott.  The  latter  is  now  six  years  old — 
Gazelle  will  be  six  next  year.  Let  her  first  show,  not 
that  she  is  capable  of  beating,  but  of  coming  within 
five  or  six  seconds  of  the  time  made  by  a  horse  of 
her  own  age,  before  she  aspires  to  or  attempts  a 
more  difficult  task.  For  a  horse  to  go  all  the  way 
around  the  ring  at  a  rate  of  speed  high  enough  to 
beat  the  world,  he  must  be  well  bred  on  both  his 
sire's  and  dam's  side.  This  is  universally  conceded. 
Now  it  is  with  the  Clay  blood  a  good  deal  as  it 
was  with  the  old  farmer  who  recommended  saw- 
dust and  meal  to  fatten  hogs.  '  You  don't  say  so,' 
exclaimed  an  eager  skin-flint  listener.  '  Why,  how 
do  you  mix  it?  '  '  Oh!  '  replied  the  farmer,  '  I  am 
not  very  particular.  I  generally  mix  mine  about  half 
and  half.  It  doesn't  matter  much,  only  the  less  saw- 
dust the  better.'  " 


In  the  end  Mr.  Thorne  was  deeply  offended  and 
we  ceased  to  exchange  letters  or  visits.  Gazelle  was 
purchased  by  Mr.  Joseph  Harker,  who  placed  her 
in  the  hands  of  Charles  S.  Green  for  further  develop- 
ment. She  did  not  prove  a  sensation  on  the  turf, 
but  trotted  to  a  record  of  2.21.  The  advocates  of 
the  Clay  family  never  forgave  Mr.  Bonner  for  the 
"  sawdust "  sneer.  They  made  mouths  at  him  for 
years  and  grow  red  in  the  face  when  you  remind 
them  of  it  now. 

61 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF    MEN   AND    HORSES 

In  the  summer  of  1882  the  country  was  aroused 
by  a  series  of  stubbornly  fought  races  between  the 
two  great  geldings — Clingstone  and  Edwin  Thorne. 
The  first  of  the  exciting  battles  was  fought  at  Cleve- 
land in  the  latter  part  of  July,  and  Clingstone  won 
by  a  narrow  margin.  At  Utica  the  tables  were 
turned.  Edwin  Thorne  won,  and  the  enthusiastic 
followers  of  Clingstone  had  lean  pocketbooks.  At 
Poughkeepsie,  in  the  latter  part  of  August,  Cling- 
stone declined  to  start  against  Edwin  Thorne,  and 
the  chestnut  had  to  face  Santa  Claus  and  Minnie  R. 
All  of  Dutchess  County  was  at  the  Hudson  River 
Driving  Park  to  see  the  race.  I  drove  to  the  track 
that  morning  from  Thorndale,  and  knew  how  anx- 
ious Mr.  Thorne  was  to  score  a  victory  with  his 
horse  in  the  county  where  he  was  bred  and  raised. 
Every  man  on  the  farm  was  eager  to  attend  the  race 
and  risk  some  of  his  savings  on  the  result. 

Orrin  A.  Hickok  had  Santa  Claus  in  fine  shape, 
and  Edwin  Thorne,  to  the  amazement  of  the  crowd, 
was  beaten  in  comparatively  slow  time.  It  was 
charged  that  the  chestnut  gelding  had  been  pulled, 
but  John  E.  Turner  bitterly  denied  it.  When  Mr. 
Thorne  saw  him  at  Hartford  the  next  week  and 
spoke  to  him  about  it  he  said : 

"  Do  you  think  that  I  would  be  mean  enough  to 
come  to  your  home  and  job  your  horse  when  you 
were  too  sick  to  be  present.  If  you  do,  I  have  only 
this  to  say,  that  I  want  you  to  take  your  horse  from 
my  stable." 

62 


EDWIN   THORNE  AND   MAMBRINO   CHIEF 

Turner  looked  and  talked  in  such  an  injured  way 
that  Mr.  Thorne  was  mollified.  Mr.  Bonner  was 
in  Hartford  and  walked  in  the  broiling  sun  across 
the  track  to  the  stable  of  Turner  to  make  a  critical 
examination  of  the  gelding.  He  found  just  what 
he  had  supposed  was  the  trouble.  The  hind  toes  were 
so  long  that  they  unbalanced  the  horse,  imposing  a 
strain  upon  the  loin  and  making  him  sore,  and  conse- 
quently unsteady. 

When  winter  came  and  Mr.  Thorne  wrote  me  that 
he  was  confined  to  his  home,  and  would  be  pleased 
to  have  me  come  up,  I  replied  that  I  should  like 
to  bring  a  friend  with  me,  Mr.  Robert  Bonner.  By 
the  return  mail  came  a  letter  cordially  inviting  Mr. 
Bonner  to  visit  him.  The  invitation  was  accepted 
in  manly  spirit,  and  the  welcome  we  received  was 
tactful  and  most  kindly.  The  two  strong,  high-spir- 
ited men  sat  before  an  open  grate  fire  and  discussed 
breeding  and  other  questions  until  the  night  was  far 
spent.  No  allusion  was  made  to  the  past,  but  neither 
had  forgotten  the  sharp  correspondence  of  1870. 
The  fact  that  they  had  been  estranged  seemed  to 
make  each  more  considerate  of  the  other's  feelings. 
The  friendship  thus  strongly  re-established  lasted  un- 
til the  great  heart  of  Mr.  Thorne  ceased  to  beat 
and  he  passed  into  the  realm  of  mystery  and  silence. 


CHAPTER  VIII 

CHARLES   BACKMAN   AND   STONY   FORD 

CHARLES  BACKMAN  was  born  November  16,  1824, 
at  Pittstown,  near  Lansingburgh,  N.  Y.,  and  his 
father  was  Henry  Bochman,  brother  of  John  Boch- 
man,  the  distinguished  ornithologist,  the  intimate 
friend  of  Wilson,  Audubon,  and  Agassiz.  The  pa- 
ternal ancestor  of  Henry  Bochman  was  born  in 
Switzerland  and  came  to  America  as  the  private  sec- 
retary of  William  Penn.  The  wife  of  Henry  Boch- 
man was  a  member  of  the  Fake  family,  who  owned 
slaves  when  human  chattels  were  recognized  in  New 
York.  She  traced  her  ancestry  to  the  Kingdom  of 
Wurtemberg,  Germany.  During  his  school  days 
Charles  Bochman  changed  the  spelling  of  his  name 
to  Backman,  and  at  the  age  of  fourteen  began  to 
care  for  himself.  In  long  drives  through  New  York 
and  Vermont  he  learned  to  appreciate  the  value  of 
the  descendants  of  Harris'  Hambletonian,  and,  after 
a  successful  business  career  in  New  York,  he  engaged 
in  breeding  at  Stony  Ford,  Orange  County,  N.  Y. 
He  purchased  this  place  in  1862,  and  in  his  little 
band  of  brood  mares  were  daughters  of  Harris' 
Hambletonian.  Additions  were  made  to  the  stud, 
regardless  of  cost,  and  Stony  Ford  became  one  of 
the  great  trotting  nurseries  of  the  world.  There 

64 


CHARLES  BACKMAN  AND  STONY  FORD 

were  700  acres  in  the  place  and  many  thou- 
sands of  dollars  were  spent  in  bringing  the  farm 
up  to  the  highest  point  of  cultivation.  Mr. 
Backman,  after  Dexter  had  won  the  trotting 
crown,  was  partial  to  the  Hambletonian  Star  com- 
bination, and  more  of  this  blood  was  at  one  time 
within  his  paddocks  than  could  be  found  in  the  com- 
bined breeding  establishments  of  the  world.  After 
such  speed-producing  sires  as  Electioneer,  Banker, 
Menelaus,  Cuyler,  Startle,  Louis  Napoleon,  Victor 
Von  Bismarck,  Stillson,  Idol,  and  Dauntless  had 
passed  from  the  Backman  stables  to  distribute  trot- 
ting plasms  in  other  sections  of  the  land,  the  desire 
to  visit  Stony  Ford  was  well  nigh  universal.  The 
visitors  were  from  all  parts  of  the  civilized  world, 
and  it  was  deemed  a  special  privilege  to  sit  at  the 
well-appointed  table  of  Uncle  Charles,  as  he  was 
called  by  his  intimates.  It  was  my  good  fortune  to 
meet  in  the  famous  smoking-room  such  gentlemen 
as  Leland  Stanford,  William  C.  Whitney,  Benjamin 
F.  Tracy,  Thos.  P.  Fowler,  Oliver  H.  Payne,  H.  O. 
Havemeyer,  C.  J.  Hamlin,  Robert  Bonner,  Frank 
Ellis,  Henry  C.  Jewett,  Wm.  Russell  Allen,  W.  M. 
V.  Hoffman,  Jas.  C.  McFerran,  Geo.  Boyd  Thacher, 
Dean  Sage,  William  Edwards,  R.  S.  Veech,  John 
E.  Green,  William  M.  Parks,  Thos.  Morton,  Wm. 
Corbitt,  F.  A.  Watson,  John  H.  Shults,  Lawrence 
Kip,  A.  Newbold  Morris,  Geo.  K.  Sistare,  L.  L. 
Lorillard,  Cortland  D.  Moss,  F.  P.  Olcott,  R.  C. 
Rathbone,  John  K.  Ottley,  Lucas  Brodhead,  David 

65 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

S.  Hammond,  Henry  A.  Barclay,  James  L.  Barclay, 
W.  B.  Dickerman,  Samuel  Weeks,  W.  M.  Fleiss, 
E.  H.  Dunham,  G.  G.  Howland,  Geo.  C.  Clausen, 
Paul  Dana,  Alfred  DeCordova,  Hugh  J.  Grant,  J. 
B.  Houston,  Wm.  Crawford,  Albert  C.  Hall,  David 
Bonner,  Myron  P.  Bush,  Geo.  B.  Alley,  Shepard  F. 
Knapp,  Joseph  Harker,  A.  A.  Bonner,  J.  D.  Ripley, 
H.  W.  T.  Mali,  Geo.  J.  Whitney,  Lloyd  Phoenix, 
Alexander  Taylor,  Jr.,  General  Dan  Sickles,  Wm. 
Rutter,  Charles  H.  Kerner,  Chas.  M.  Reed,  Frank 
Work,  H.  M.  Whitehead,  Thos.  L.  Watt,  and 
Robert  C.  Watson.  As  I  call  the  roll  I  am  startled 
at  the  silence.  How  many  fail  to  answer  "  Here !  " 
After  an  eight  o'clock  breakfast  the  smokers 
lighted  cigars  and  followed  their  host  along  the  walk 
which  wound  through  flowers  and  shrubbery  up  the 
hill  where  the  stables  stood  in  townlike  cluster. 
Here  the  yards  which  caught  and  held  the  warm  sun- 
shine were  as  neat  as  the  good  housewife's  parlor, 
and  the  big  box  stalls  were  fragrant  with  bright  clean 
straw,  thickly  strewn  under  hoofs.  The  well-drilled 
stable  attendants  threw  the  doors  open  noiselessly  and 
stood  with  mute  lips.  On  the  frame  of  each  door 
was  the  name,  with  pedigree,  of  the  animal  in  the 
copperplate  handwriting  of  S.  D.  Shipman,  and  the 
visitor  need  not  ask  a  question  unless  such  was  his 
bent.  Mr.  Backman,  supported  by  his  cane,  puffed 
quietly  at  his  cigar  as  each  door  opened  and  closed, 
but  his  questioning  eyes  were  not  often  deceived  as 
to  the  impression  made  upon  the  mind  of  the  ob- 

66 


CHARLES  BACKMAN  AND  STONY  FORD 

server.  He  knew  as  if  by  intuition  whether  the 
horse  had  pleased  or  disappointed  the  inspecting 
group.  The  law  of  kindness  was  in  force  in  the 
equine  village,  and  it  was  rare  to  see  a  whip  in  the 
hands  of  a  groom.  When  the  Superintendent,  John 
Hogan,  wished  to  check  a  slight  departure  from 
obedience,  he  simply  stooped  and  picked  up  a  straw 
and  shook  it  as  a  warning. 

After  the  rounds  of  the  stable  had  been  made 
there  was  a  walk  or  drive  through  the  pasture,  where 
the  brood  mares  stood  up  to  their  knees  in  grass, 
and  where  the  foals  greeted  you  with  wonder-speak- 
ing eyes.  Here  form  was  closely  scanned,  blood  lines 
carefully  weighed,  and  hope  took  root.  Many  pre- 
dictions as  to  the  future  were  made,  and  the  discus- 
sion often  grew  warm  in  the  smoking-room  pre- 
vious to  luncheon.  If  Mr.  David  Bonner  happened 
to  be  one  of  the  party,  Mr.  Backman  would  quietly 
ask  him  to  look  at  his  watch  and  see  if  the  hands 
had  traveled  a  second  beyond  twelve.  "  Good  gra- 
cious, yes!  "  And  then  the  procession  formed  and 
marched  up  to  the  old-fashioned  sideboard  and  the 
essence  of  corn  and  rye  mellowed  by  time  gave  an 
amber  glow  to  each  thin  glass  and  lent  wings  to 
fancy.  After  luncheon  the  big  armchairs  placed  in 
the  shade  of  wide-branching  trees  by  the  side  of  the 
track  near  the  carriage-house  stable,  were  filled  with 
generous-hearted  mortals  and  stop  watches  caught 
the  quarters,  halves,  and  miles,  and  opinions  were 
exchanged  as  to  which  was  the  most  promising  colt. 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

If  two  of  the  onlookers  should  radically  differ,  a 
proposition  for  a  match  grew  out  of  heated  dis- 
cussion and  then  Uncle  Charles  was  called  aside  by 
each  and  the  price  asked.  Usually  it  was  a  stiff 
price,  and,  on  return  to  the  smoking-room  toasts  were 
drunk  to  the  new  owners  and  seemingly  not  a  cloud 
obscured  the  sky.  Conversation  stopped  at  an  hour 
to  give  the  guests  time  to  dress  for  the  seven  o'clock 
dinner,  because  it  was  well  known  what  a  martinet  of 
punctuality  Mr.  Backman  was  at  his  table.  The 
sherry  was  of  the  richest  vintage,  the  dry  champagne 
was  served  in  thin  goblets,  and  the  brandy,  the  very 
gold  of  earth's  fruitage,  put  you  in  good  humor  with 
yourself  and  all  the  world.  Those  who  preferred  the 
drawing-room  after  the  brandy  were  welcomed  by  the 
ladies,  but  usually  the  procession  filed  up  the  stairs 
and  revelled  in  the  freedom  of  the  smoking-room. 
Here  were  books  of  reference  to  settle  points  in  dis- 
pute when  controversy  became  intense,  and  a  penalty 
imposed  on  the  loser  was  to  put  fresh  glasses  on  a 
silver  tray.  The  entire  world  was  each  man's  oyster 
in  that  big  room,  adorned  with  portraits  of  horses 
and  studded  with  generous  armchairs,  with  a  con- 
venient sofa  here  and  there,  and  eyelids  did  not  grow 
heavy  even  when  the  stars  of  midnight  looked  down 
upon  the  oaks  and  the  pines.  It  was  rare  that  feel- 
ing did  not  burst  into  song,  and  the  meadow  larks 
waiting  for  the  sun  to  rise  listened  and  wondered  if 
something  were  not  out  of  joint.  Many  a  match, 
which  became  the  talk  of  the  country,  was  made  and 

68 


CHARLES    BACKMAN   AND    STONY   FORD 

sealed  between  the  hours  of  twelve  and  three,  and 
many  a  check  for  four  figures  was  drawn  to  pay 
for  a  future  record-breaker.  It  mattered  not  how 
late  you  hunted  your  pillow,  or  how  feverish  were 
your  dreams,  you  were  expected  to  be  in  your  seat 
at  the  breakfast  table  at  eight  o'clock,  and  to  greet 
the  host  and  ladies  with  a  smile  as  fresh  as  the  dew- 
kissed  rose. 

When  I  am  in  Orange  County  and  drive  by  the 
City  of  the  Silent  on  the  hillside,  where  trees  lift 
their  strong  arms  to  embrace  the  blue  sky  and  ward 
off  storm,  I  am  reminded  of  the  golden  hours  at 
Stony  Ford,  and  hope  that  all  is  well  with  Uncle 
Charles  and  the  gallant  fellows  who  have  crossed  the 
river  with  him. 

Mr.  Backman  was  an  early  advocate  of  the  speed- 
supporting  cross.  In  his  first  catalogue,  published  in 
1870,  he  gave  evidence  of  his  respect  for  the  thor- 
oughbred foundation.  The  pedigrees  of  stallions  and 
brood  mares  were  extended  so  as  to  take  in  running 
crosses.  The  lines  of  his  favorite  stallion,  Messen- 
ger Duroc,  were  traced  to  such  thoroughbreds  as 
Henry,  American  Eclipse,  and  Messenger.  Grand- 
mother, the  dam  of  Hattie  Wood,  dam  of  Idol, 
Victor  Von  Bismarck,  and  Gazelle,  2.21,  was  re- 
corded as  by  Terror  by  American  Eclipse;  Terror's 
dam,  Lady  Lightfoot  by  Sir  Archy,  and  second  dam 
Black  Maria  by  imp.  Shark.  Green  Mountain  Maid 
was  given  as  by  Harry  Clay,  dam  by  Lexington,  but 
as  the  Lexington  cross  could  not  be  verified,  it  was 

69 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

dropped  in  subsequent  catalogues.  In  the  annual 
publication  of  1873  he  emphasized  the  blood  of 
Seely's  American  Star,  and  traced  the  stallion  to  thor- 
oughbred foundations.  He  was  partial  to  the  daugh- 
ters of  Star,  because  he  believed  that  they  nicked 
well  with  Rysdyk's  Hambletonian  and  his  sons — 
that  they  contributed  to  the  nerve  energy  so  essential 
to  win  races  of  divided  heats.  As  the  years  went 
by  the  fact  was  made  plain  that  the  greatest  of  Stony 
Ford  brood  mares  was  Green  Mountain  Maid,  and 
she  was  a  self-willed  thing,  with  a  spirit  that  did 
not  brook  harsh  opposition,  from  the  rose  tints  of 
babyhood  to  the  gray  shadows  of  life.  I  made  the 
acquaintance  of  Green  Mountain  Maid  before  she 
passed  to  the  ownership  of  Mr.  Backman,  saw  all 
of  her  foals  following  her  through  green  pastures, 
and,  when  it  was  decided  to  erect  a  monument  to  her 
memory,  I  was  asked  to  be  one  of  the  party  assem- 
bled at  Stony  Ford  in  the  latter  part  of  November, 
1889.  The  snow  was  silently  falling  when  we  gath- 
ered around  the  massive  shaft  of  red  Missouri  gran- 
ite on  the  brow  of  the  commanding  hill,  just  back  of 
the  stables,  and  all  stood  with  uncovered  heads  while 
I  made  a  few  remarks. 

Sentiment  was  not  a  stranger  to  the  social  gather- 
ings at  Stony  Ford.  If  you  wish  proof  of  the  fact, 
you  will  find  it  in  the  appended  remarks  made  at  a 
formal  round-table  dinner  in  the  big  dining-room 
on  Memorial  Day.  Mr.  Backman  was  the  courteous 
host  and  Henry  W.  T.  Mali  was  the  toastmaster. 

70 


CHARLES  BACKMAN  AND  STONY  FORD 

I  knew  that  I  should  be  called  upon  for  a  speech  and 
made  some  preparation: 

"  On  a  day  like  this,  when  a  nation  strews  flowers 
on  the  graves  of  gallant  dead,  and  the  public  heart 
throbs  with  sentiment,  it  is  not  out  of  place  to 
speak  briefly  of  the  romantic  side  of  breeding  and 
development.  Emotional  power  is  generally  re- 
garded as  an  evidence  of  soul  life.  The  clod  of  the 
valley  is  devoid  of  sentiment,  and  so  the  wild  rose 
growing  by  its  side,  although  it  blush  with  delicate 
beauty,  makes  no  impression  on  it.  The  man  who 
is  dead  to  sentiment  is  dead  to  the  fine  feelings  which 
lift  him  above  the  dry  sand  of  a  desert.  One  horse 
has  more  value  than  another,  because  he  appeals  with 
greater  force  to  the  imagination.  The  2.o8f  of 
Maud  S.  represents  the  limit  of  developed  speed,  and, 
as  fancy  has  been  educated  up  to  an  enthusiastic 
appreciation  of  speed,  we  bow  down  and  worship 
the  great  chestnut  as  a  queen.  Beyond  the  hum  and 
hurry  of  the  metropolis,  the  loyal  breeder  holds 
cheerful  communion  with  nature.  He  is  not  lone- 
some even  in  solitude.  In  his  bedchamber,  his  library, 
in  the  paddock,  under  the  sheltering  branches  of  a 
tree,  thought  in  all  its  majesty  is  with  him.  He 
grasps  and  blends  the  mysterious  currents  of  life 
as  calmly  as  the  child  grasps  the  silken  threads  with 
which  it  plays,  and,  lo,  form  rises  from  the  fabric 
of  which  dreams  are  made,  shadows  become  sub- 
stance, and  a  thing  of  grace  and  animation  appears 
on  the  hillside  to  brush  with  its  tiny  hoofs,  in  the 
gray  and  purple  of  morning,  the  dew  from  daisies 
and  forget-me-nots,  and  to  stand  with  wisdom-ab- 
sorbing eyes  under  the  gold  and  crimson-bound  sky 
of  evening.  When  we  approach  the  subject  of  nomen- 


RECOLLECTIONS   OF   MEN  AND    HORSES 

clature,  sentiment  again  asserts  its  power.  For  in- 
stance: aroused  by  the  touching  story  of  Tennyson, 
a  filly  is  christened  Elaine  and  a  colt  Lancelot,  and 
the  caresses  showered  upon  the  foals  leave  a  shining 
trail  through  a  forest  of  memories.  The  growth  of 
the  new  arrival  is  watched  from  day  to  day,  from 
month  to  month,  and  sentiment  decorates  the  form 
with  virtues  not  apparent  to  dull  and  unresponsive 
minds.  The  animal  is  associated  with  thought  when 
a  walk  is  taken  in  the  pasture,  is  nursed  with  the 
tenderness  of  a  child  when  sick,  and  is  remembered 
with  food  and  shelter  when  winter  storms  heap  deso- 
lation on  the  landscape.  If  commercial  spirit  in- 
trude upon  the  scene  and  a  sale  is  made,  sad  eyes 
follow  the  young  prince  or  princess  down  the  road 
and  a  sigh  escapes  the  lips  when  the  object  of  tender 
regard  fades  utterly  from  view.  Elaine  may  never 
return  to  the  farm  where  she  was  bred,  but  he  who 
with  God-like  power  evolved  her  from  the  gray  mists 
and  high  lights  of  the  brain  sits  on  the  piazza  with 
green  fields  before  him,  far  removed  from  the  dust 
and  friction  of  the  campaign,  and  eagerly  devours 
the  reports  which  come  to  him  by  mail  or  wire  of 
her  victories  and  defeats.  And  Lancelot  appeals  with 
equal  strength  to  the  imagination.  What  he  is  doing 
and  what  he  is  likely  to  do  are  questions  of  deep 
interest.  Will  the  imperial  mantle  of  Electioneer, 
eldest  son  of  Green  Mountain  Maid,  descend  to  him, 
the  youngest  of  the  family,  or  will  some  other  mem- 
ber of  the  house  take  rank  above  him  ?  Time  alone 
can  answer.  Thus  fancy  is  continually  under  whip 
and  spur,  and  the  breeder  lives  in  an  atmosphere  of 
sweet  retrospect  and  daring  hope.  A  web  of  fascina- 
tion is  woven  around  the  work  by  sentiment,  and 
through  triumph  and  failure  the  fires  of  that  ambition 

72 


CHARLES  BACKMAN  AND  STONY  FORD 

are  kept  burning  which  made  Napoleon  a  colossal 
figure  in  history." 

Mr.  Backman  made  no  attempt  to  grain  cultivate 
the  700  acres  of  his  farm.  He  kept  all  the  domain  in 
grass,  as  he  was  opposed  to  contracting  the  range  of 
the  horse.  The  grass  of  the  undulating  lands  of 
Orange  County  is  of  the  sweet  and  holding  kind  and 
therefore  valuable  for  horse-growing  purposes.  You 
want  rich  fat-forming  pastures  for  the  steer  that  you 
are  getting  ready  for  the  shambles,  but  not  for  the 
horse  whose  success  depends  upon  lung  tissue  and 
muscular  fibre.  We  can  trace  many  failures  in  breed- 
ing to  the  absence  of  knowlege  of  the  quality  of  grass 
lands.  In  his  natural  state  the  horse  prefers  the 
so-called  hard  grass  of  elevated  tablelands,  and  he 
will  not  feed  on  ground  that  he  has  soiled.  The 
excrement  is  deposited  in  a  spot  remote  from  the 
table  where  he  dines.  In  this  respect  he  is  far  more 
civilized  than  the  ox.  If  the  dam  is  forced  to  run 
on  a  stale  or  sour  pasture,  the  poison  drawn  from 
her  milk  will  affect  the  foal.  This  is  something  over- 
looked by  too  many  breeders  and  they  do  not  take 
the  proper  steps  to  check  the  multiplication  of  foals 
of  weak  constitution.  Mr.  Backman  was  wise  in  giv- 
ing plenty  of  range  to  his  growing  horses,  and  in 
guarding  against  the  staling  of  pasture.  He  believed 
in  breeding-in  for  the  strengthening  and  perpetua- 
tion of  desirable  qualities,  but  was  not  always  prudent 
in  uniting  kindred  strains  handicapped  with  infirmity. 

73 


RECOLLECTIONS   OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

We  can  intensify  defect  as  well  as  merit  by  a  close 
commingling  of  blood. 

Under  date  of  January  20,  1890,  Mr.  Backman 
wrote  to  me: 

"  I  thought  that  you  would  like  to  know  that  Mes- 
senger Duroc  has  sired  two  in  the  2.30  list  out  of 
strictly  thoroughbred  mares.  You  like  a  fight  and 
I  will  give  you  a  little  opportunity.  Praetor,  2.29^, 
is  by  Messenger  Duroc,  dam  by  Vandal;  second  dam 
Maid  of  Monmouth  by  Traveller;  third  dam 
Amanda  by  Bonds  Revenge.  Praetor  was  bred  by 
Isaac  W.  Pennock  of  Kentucky,  and  is  the  sire  of 
Charley  Green,  2.25,  with  but  little  work.  John  W., 
2.29^,  is  by  Messenger  Duroc,  dam  Astrae,  by  Aste- 
riod,  son  of  Lexington ;  second  dam  Banner  by  Lex- 
ington. John  W.  was  bred  by  George  B.  Graham  of 
Baltimore,  Md.,  and  Astrae  was  bred  by  R.  A. 
Alexander,  and  sold  to  one  of  the  Browns  of  Brown 
Bros.,  Baltimore.  I  purchased  her  from  Mr.  Gra- 
ham, and  you  will  find  her  in  my  catalogue  of  1871. 
It  would  seem  that  Messenger  Duroc  can  get  trotters 
out  of  thoroughbred  mares  as  well  as  Electioneer." 

Later  Charley  Green  trotted  to  a  record  of  2.19^, 
and  Praetor  sired  the  dams  of  the  two  pacers,  Brevet, 
2.20^,  and  Garnet,  2.14!.  John  W.  reduced  his  rec- 
ord to  2.244. 

Under  date  of  April  7,  1890,  Mr.  Backman  wrote 
tome: 

"  I  bought  Green  Mountain  Maid  a  few  days  after 
she  was  bred  to  Middletown  and  she  was  brought 
here  that  day  or  the  day  after.  Her  produce  was 

74 


CARLL  S.  BURR,  JR, 


CHARLES  BACKMAN  AND  STONY  FORD 

Storm,  and  the  name  was  suggested  from  the  fact 
that  the  mare  foaled  while  in  the  lot  and  in  a  terrible 
storm." 

The  oil  portrait  of  Shanghai  Mary  still  hangs  in 
the  smoking-room  at  Stony  Ford,  and  the  form  is 
that  of  a  mare  far  removed  from  the  dull  farm-horse 
type.  The  nervous  energy  of  Green  Mountain  Maid 
did  not  come  from  her  sire,  Harry  Clay,  and  the 
only  logical  conclusion  is  that  it  was  derived  from 
her  dam.  Although  the  blood  of  Shanghai  Mary 
is  not  known,  it  evidently  was  descended  from  some 
champion  of  the  running  turf.  This  was  Mr.  Back- 
man's  firm  belief,  as  well  as  of  all  other  men  who 
had  knowledge  of  type.  It  was  in  December,  1876, 
that  Leland  Stanford  paid  Mr.  Backman  $41,200 
for  thirteen  animals,  two  of  which,  Electioneer  and 
Elaine,  were  the  children  of  Green  Mountain  Maid. 
Both  greatly  distinguished  themselves  in  reproductive 
channels  at  Palo  Alto  Stock  Farm.  The  brother  of 
Governor  Stanford  was  one  of  the  visiting  party, 
and  he  found  fault  with  the  conformation  of  Elec- 
tioneer. Polite  attempts  to  ignore  the  fault-finding 
were  made,  but  criticism  was  not  silenced  until  the 
Governor  blandly  said: 

"  Never  mind,  Charles,  the  horse  suits  me.  Don't 
worry.  I  will  soon  pay  a  visit  to  your  farm  and  buy 
a  carload  of  horses  from  you." 

If  Governor  Stanford  had  not  exercised  his  own 
judgment,  what  would  have  been  the  result  of  his 

75 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

breeding  venture  in  California  ?  Electioneer  was  the 
keynote  to  his  remarkable  success. 

It  was  in  November,  1888,  that  I  ran  up  to  Stony 
Ford  with  William  Russell  Allen.  The  day  was 
stormy,  but  we  braved  the  rain  and  mud  and  our 
clothing  was  somewhat  soiled  when  we  returned  to 
the  smoking-room.  Lancelot,  the  last  of  the  produce 
of  Green  Mountain  Maid,  was  then  a  handsome 
yearling,  and  he  filled  the  critical  eye  as  we  chased 
him  around  the  big  paddock.  After  cigars  had  been 
lighted  Mr.  Allen  marked  certain  animals  in  the 
catalogue  and  asked  me  to  see  if  I  could  buy  them. 
He  stepped  outside  while  I  conversed  with  Mr. 
Backman.  The  latter  looked  startled,  and  finally 
took  his  pencil  and  wrote  the  prices  on  the  margin 
of  the  catalogue.  I  made  an  addition  and  found  that 
the  amount  was  over  $40,000.  With  a  shrug  of  the 
shoulders  I  handed  the  list  to  Mr.  Allen,  who,  after 
dissecting  it,  quietly  said : 

"  You  may  buy  at  the  prices  named." 

Mr.  Backman  gasped  and  said:  "While  you  are 
about  it  why  not  break  the  record?  The  Stanford 
sale  is  still  the  best." 

"  All  right,"  was  the  reply.  "  Let  Mr.  Busbey 
select  two  mares  to  swell  the  amount." 

Mr.  Backman  said  "  Agreed,"  and  the  two  ani- 
mals thus  selected  brought  the  amount  up  to  $44,100 
for  ten  head.  The  price  paid  for  Lancelot  was 
$12,500,  the  same  that  Governor  Stanford  had  paid 
for  Electioneer;  and  Elista,  the  sister  of  Elaine, 


CHARLES  BACKMAN  AND  STONY  FORD 

was  put  in  at  $10,000.  The  story  of  this  remarkable 
sale,  when  telegraphed  over  the  country,  stiffened 
prices  in  all  directions,  and  gave  fresh  impetus  to 
the  trotting-horse  breeding  industry.  It  was  the  first 
time  that  Mr.  Allen  had  ever  visited  Stony  Ford, 
and  he  was  a  complete  stranger  to  the  gay  party 
which  arrived  at  six  o'clock  on  the  train  from  New 
York  over  the  Ontario  &  Western  Railroad.  It  was 
Mr.  Backman's  birthday,  and  the  gentlemen  had 
come  up  to  celebrate  it  with  a  formal  dinner.  Mr. 
Allen  mildly  protested  that  his  wardrobe  was  not 
suitable  for  a  gathering  of  the  kind,  but  his  host 
silenced  all  objections  on  this  point.  The  New 
Yorkers,  among  whom  were  Colonel  Lawrence  Kip, 
A.  Newbold  Morris,  A.  A.  Bonner,  Albert  C.  Hall, 
and  David  Bonner,  went  to  their  rooms  to  dress, 
and,  after  they  had  gathered  in  the  smoking-room, 
properly  attired  for  a  high  social  function,  they 
turned  to  Mr.  Backman,  during  the  temporary  ab- 
sence of  Mr.  Allen,  and  facetiously  inquired: 

"  Uncle  Charles,  who  is  the  countryman  that  you 
are  entertaining?  " 

"  His  name  is  William  Russell  Allen.  He  is  a 
resident  of  the  Berkshires,  and  also  of  St.  Louis.  He 
has  a  little  fancy  for  trotters  and  I  have  this  after- 
noon made  to  him  the  largest  sale  in  the  history  of 
Stony  Ford." 

"What?"  was  the  chorus  of  astonishment. 

"  You  do  not  mean  to  tell  us  that  he  has  gone  one 
better  than  the  Governor  Stanford  sale?" 

77 


RECOLLECTIONS  OF  MEN  AND  HORSES 

"  Yes,  he  has  beaten  that  sale  and  I  am  sure  that 
you  will  find  him  a  good  fellow." 

When  Mr.  Allen  returned  to  the  room,  although 
not  in  full  dinner  dress,  he  was  warmly  greeted,  and 
before  the  coffee  was  served  in  the  drawing-room, 
the  barriers  of  reserve  had  disappeared.  If  I  mistake 
not,  it  was  long  after  midnight  before  the  cheerful 
household  was  locked  in  the  arms  of  sleep. 


CHAPTER  IX 

LELAND  STANFORD  AND  PALO  ALTO 

LELAND  STANFORD  was  born  in  Albany  County, 
N.  Y.,  in  March,  1824,  and  more  than  once  Charles 
Backman,  who  was  born  and  reared  in  the  same 
locality,  told  me  of  his  first  meeting  with  that  gentle- 
man. As  a  young  man  he  attended  a  local  trotting 
meeting,  and  purchased  his  admission  ticket  from 
Stanford,  who  was  keeping  close  tab  on  the  entrance 
gate.  Later  both  of  these  men  became  distinguished 
breeders  of  the  trotting  horse.  In  California  Leland 
Stanford  accumulated  a  fortune,  was  elected  Gov- 
ernor of  the  State,  and  represented  the  Common- 
wealth in  the  United  States  Senate  at  Washington. 
He  started  a  breeding  farm  in  Santa  Clara  County, 
32  miles  south  of  San  Francisco,  but  did  not  achieve 
much  success  until  after  he  had  paid  a  visit  to  Stony 
Ford  in  1876,  and  there  purchased  from  Charles 
Backman  the  bay  stallion  Electioneer,  by  Rysdyk's 
Hambletonian,  dam  Green  Mountain  Maid.  The 
stallion  was  then  eight  years  old,  and,  although  with- 
out record,  never  having  been  track  developed,  could 
show  a  2. 20  gait  at  the  trot.  He  was  bred  to  Beau- 
tiful Bells  in  1879,  anc*  the  produce  February  27, 
1880,  was  the  brown  filly  Hinda  Rose.  At  Palo 
Alto  farm,  an  estate  of  1 1 ,000  acres,  Governor  Stan- 

79 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

ford  tested  original  theories,  with  striking  results.  In 
1879  he  built  a  miniature  track,  an  oval  of  313  feet 
with  turns  well  thrown  up,  and  it  soon  became  re- 
nowned as  a  kindergarten  of  speed.  Constant  exer- 
cise in  the  warm  and  bright  sunshine  of  California, 
with  plenty  of  stimulating  food,  kept  the  foals  grow- 
ing, and  as  yearlings  they  were  as  well  matured  as 
two-year-olds  bred  and  raised  in  the  East,  where 
severe  winter  weather  compelled  housing  for  months. 
As  a  weanling  Hinda  Rose  was  turned  loose  on  the 
miniature  track  and  urged  to  extend  herself  on  the 
stretches.  She  was  a  natural  trotter,  and  learned 
so  rapidly  to  control  her  gait  that  as  a  yearling,  at 
San  Francisco  November  14,  1881,  she  trotted  to 
a  record  of  2.364.  This  was  an  undreamed  of  per- 
formance, and  throughout  the  country  it  created  a 
profound  impression.  As  a  two-year-old  Hinda 
Rose  came  to  New  York  in  the  stable  of  Charles 
Marvin,  and  I  went  to  Fleetwood  Park  with  Mr. 
Robert  Bonner  to  look  her  over.  When  the  blanket 
was  removed  and  she  was  led  from  the  box  stall,  we 
were  astonished  at  her  size.  She  looked  then  like 
a  full-grown  mare.  As  a  two-year-old  Hinda  Rose 
trotted  to  a  record  of  2.32,  and  in  October,  1883,  at 
Lexington,  Ky.,  she  trotted  to  a  record  of  2.194. 
It  was  soon  after  this  that  Governor  Stanford  said 
to  me: 

"  I  believe  in  developing  a  colt's  strength  with  his 
growth.  Judicious  exercise  is  beneficial  rather  than 
harmful.  Let-ups  are  dangerous  to  fast  young  ani- 

80 


LELAND    STANFORD    AND    PALO   ALTO 

mals,  because  their  bodies  grow  during  the  let-up,  and 
they  are  liable  to  get  too  much  work  when  exercise 
is  renewed.  My  aim  is  to  give  the  greatest  possible 
amount  of  exercise  without  fatigue,  and  never  to  al- 
low it  to  reach  the  period  of  exhaustion.  This  is 
secured  by  short-distance  exercise.  It  is  the  supreme 
effort  that  develops." 

As  I  was  in  the  judge's  stand  at  Lexington  when 
Hinda  Rose  made  her  best  record,  I  could  not  be 
otherwise  than  impressed  with  the  performance.  In 
the  spring  of  1884  I  was  conversing  with  Governor 
Stanford  in  his  private  room  at  the  Windsor  Hotel 
in  New  York,  when  he  asked  me  about  the  showing 
of  Hinda  Rose  at  Lexington,  and  intimated  that  he 
would  like  to  see  the  mare  enter  the  select  stable 
of  Robert  Bonner.  The  next  day  I  saw  Mr.  Bonner, 
and  he  said  he  would  like  to  have  the  young  mare 
at  the  price  suggested  by  her  owner,  $15,000,  and 
added:  "  I  will  make  you  a  present  of  $1000  if  you 
secure  her  for  me  at  this  figure." 

I  did  not  let  grass  grow  under  my  feet,  but  the 
same  evening  called  on  Governor  Stanford  and  ex- 
changed views  with  him.  He  began  to  hedge  a  little, 
and  said  that  he  would  like  to  control  the  racing 
qualities  of  Hinda  Rose  for  that  season,  so  as  to 
improve  her  record,  and  asked  if  it  would  be  satis- 
factory to  place  her  in  control  of  Wm.  H.  Hum- 
phreys. I  expressed  doubt  on  this  point,  but  made  a 
memorandum  to  the  effect  that  Mr.  Bonner  would 
pay  $15,000  for  Hinda  Rose  when  delivered  at  his 

81 


RECOLLECTIONS   OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

stable  in  New  York  in  the  autumn.  The  Governor 
read  the  memorandum  and  nodded  his  head.  I  saw 
Mr.  Bonner  the  same  evening,  and  the  next  morn- 
ing, May  24,  sent  a  note  by  messenger  to  Governor 
Stanford: 

"  When  I  first  showed  the  memorandum  left  with 
you  last  night  to  Mr.  Bonner,  he  stated  that  he 
wanted  no  writing,  that  a  word  from  you  was  suffi- 
cient. But,  when  I  explained  that  he  had  not  met 
you,  and  that  you  had  only  my  word  as  to  what  he 
would  assume,  he  said  that  he  would  sign  anything 
that  would  meet  your  views.  If  the  form  is  not 
satisfactory,  and  if  you  are  willing  to  take  my  word 
as  to  what  Mr.  Bonner  will  do,  let  the  matter  stand 
without  a  scratch  of  the  pen.  Mr.  Humphreys  is 
the  only  man  that  you  could  have  named  that  he 
would  have  objected  to,  and  that  is  simply  ^for  the 
reason  that,  not  being  on  speaking  terms  with  Mr. 
Humphreys,  he  could  not  very  well  enter  into  nego- 
tiations with  him.  It  makes  no  difference  to  Mr. 
Bonner  what  disposition  you  make  of  Hinda  Rose, 
only  that  you  sell  her  to  some  party  with  the  reserva- 
tion that  she  is  to  be  delivered  to  Mr.  Bonner  after 
the  Breeders'  Meeting  in  September,  for  $15,000, 
if  she  obtains  a  record  better  than  2.i8f,  and  for 
$20,000  if  she  obtains  a  record  of  better  than  2.17^." 

The  price  which  W.  H.  Vanderbilt  paid  for 
Maud  S.,  when  she  trotted  a  public  trial  at  Lexing- 
ton as  a  four-year-old  in  2.17^,  was  $20,000,  with 
$1000  additional  to  her  trainer  and  driver,  W.  W. 

Bair.    It  was  for  this  reason  that  the  price  of  Hinda 

82 


LELAND   STANFORD    AND   PALO   ALTO 

Rose  was  to  be  increased  by  $5000,  provided  that 
she  should  trot  in  2.17^  as  a  four-year-old. 

The  following  day  I  sent  another  note  to  Governor 
Stanford  : 

"  I  called  at  the  Windsor  last  night  and  was  told 
that  you  had  gone  out  of  town.  If,  on  your  return, 
you  will  kindly  let  me  know  by  line  when  I  can  see 
you  for  a  few  minutes,  you  will  greatly  oblige  me." 

Not  until  June  1 6  was  I  favored  with  a  reply,  and 
it  read: 

"It  is  so  uncertain  about  my  sending  any  stock 
East,  that  I  must  decline  your  proposition  as  to  the 
place  of  delivery  of  Hinda  Rose,  and  adhere  to  my 
original  one  of  delivering  her  at  Palo  Alto." 

The  original  proposition  was  to  deliver  the  mare 
in  New  York,  but,  as  Governor  Stanford  seemed  to 
be  reluctant  to  part  with  the  daughter  of  Electioneer 
and  Beautiful  Bells,  Mr.  Bonner  requested  me  not 
to  press  the  question. 

Under  date  of  September  16  I  received  another 
letter  from  Governor  Stanford : 

"I  am  of  the  opinion  that  our  last  interview  ter- 
minated the  negotiations  in  regard  to  Hinda  Rose,  but 
I  am  not  sure  that  you  expressed  yourself  positively 
one  way  or  the  other,  and,  as  I  am  now  writing  you, 
I  should  be  glad  to  have  you  say  positively  whether 
you  consider  the  negotiations  terminated." 

83 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

It  was  then  plain  that  Hinda  Rose  was  not  in  con- 
dition to  beat  her  three-year-old  record,  and  the  an- 
swer was  that  her  owner  was  at  liberty  to  find  another 
purchaser  for  the  mare.  Mr.  Frank  Work,  who  had 
talked  of  buying  Hinda  Rose,  also  retreated,  and  the 
once  sensational  yearling  entered  breeding  ranks  at 
Palo  Alto.  As  a  brood  mare  she  was  a  sad  failure. 

On  another  occasion  I  found  that  Governor  Stan- 
ford could  take  care  of  himself  in  a  horse  trade. 
When  Palo  Alto  was  the  champion  trotting  stallion 
of  America,  a  friend  asked  me  to  get  a  price  on  him. 
I  sounded  the  Governor  in  person.  He  said  that  he 
would  not  sell — that  the  stallion  was  worth  to  him 
$100,000. 

"  Will  you  price  him  to  me  at  $100,000?  " 

"  No.  Do  I  understand  you  to  offer  me  $100,000 
for  him?" 

"  If  your  price  is  higher,  there  is  no  use  in  making 
the  offer." 

The  subject  was  dropped,  and  Palo  Alto  died  the 
property  of  Governor  Stanford. 

Some  time  later  Senator  Stanford  said  to  me  that  he 
would  really  like  to  see  in  the  stable  of  Mr.  Bonner 
one  of  the  best  representatives  of  his  breeding  farm. 
When  Sunol,  the  bay  daughter  of  Electioneer  and 
Waxana  by  General  Benton,  trotted  at  Bay  District, 
San  Francisco,  October  19,  1888,  to  a  two-year-old 
record  of  2.18,  the  eyes  of  Mr.  Bonner  were  turned 
to  her,  and,  when  in  1889  she  trotted  over  the  same 
course  to  a  three-year-old  record  of  2,xoi,  beating 

84 


LELAND  STANFORD  AND  PALO  ALTO 

the  2.12  of  Axtell  made  at  Terre  Haute  October  n, 
1889,  the  world  was  astounded,  and  Mr.  Bonner, 
acting  upon  the  message  conveyed  by  me  to  him, 
addressed  a  letter  to  Hon.  Leland  Stanford,  saying 
that  he  would  give  him  $41,000  for  Sunol,  which 
was  $1000  more  than  he  had  paid  Mr.  Vanderbilt 
for  Maud  S.  The  reply  was  prompt  and  satisfactory. 
It  was  to  the  effect  that  the  breeder  of  Sunol  would 
rather  sell  her  to  Mr.  Bonner  for  $41,000  than  to 
any  other  man  for  $100,000.  A  syndicate  had  paid 
$105,000  for  Axtell,  a  few  days  after  he  had  trotted 
to  his  three-year-old  record  of  2.12,  and  this  fact 
emphasized  the  sincerity  of  Senator  Stanford's  words. 
Mr.  Bonner  went  to  California,  where  Senator  Stan- 
ford took  pride  in  showing  him  Sunol,  and  the  young 
mare  with  the  grayhound  hips  changed  owners, 
One  of  the  conditions  was  that  the  mare  should  be 
controlled  for  six  months  by  her  breeder.  Marvin 
was  to  trot  her  in  the  name  of  Leland  Stanford,  and 
if  possible  reduce  her  record.  The  Axtell  party 
questioned  her  supremacy,  and  the  newspapers  were 
filled  with  talk  about  the  point  in  dispute  being  settled 
by  a  meeting  on  the  track.  It  was  well  known  that 
no  challenge  would  be  accepted  by  Mr.  Bonner,  but 
with  Senator  Stanford  in  control,  there  was  a  way 
around  the  obstacle.  Senator  Stanford  authorized 
me  to  accept  any  proposition  that  the  owners  of  Ax- 
tell cared  to  make,  and  in  1890  both  four-year-olds 
were  put  in  training  for  a  meeting.  Mr.  John  W. 
Conley  spoke  for  Axtell,  who  was  trained  by  Budd 

85 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF    MEN   AND    HORSES 

Doble,  and  I  agreed  to  his  terms.  Mr.  Bonner,  who 
was  a  close  reader  of  the  papers,  saw  the  drift  of 
affairs,  and  one  day  asked  me  if  I  had  full  authority 
from  Senator  Stanford  to  act.  When  I  showed  him 
my  authority,  his  only  reply  was : 

"  Well,  under  the  contract,  the  Senator  owns  the 
racing  qualities  of  the  mare  until  she  is  delivered  at 
my  stable,  and  I  have  nothing  whatever  to  say.  If 
you  bring  these  two  four-year-olds  together,  the  track 
will  not  hold  the  people." 

Unfortunately  Axtell  trained  off,  and  Mr.  Conley 
notified  me  that  the  proposed  race  or  races  were 
cancelled. 

Soon  after  Sunol  had  arrived  at  Terre  Haute  in 
the  spring  of  1890,  Mr.  Bonner  invited  me  to  go 
out  with  him  and  look  her  over.  At  Buffalo  Mr.  C. 
J.  Hamlin  joined  us,  and  at  Terre  Haute  we  found 
William  Russell  Allen,  who  had  run  up  from  St. 
Louis.  Our  little  party  attracted  considerable  at- 
tention, and  the  shoeing  of  Sunol,  under  the  personal 
direction  of  her  owner,  was  watched  with  the  keenest 
interest.  Sunol  was  nodding  when  Mr.  Bonner  first 
saw  her  at  Palo  Alto,  but  he  did  not  hesitate  to 
write  a  check  for  her,  because  he  felt  confident  that 
he  could  remove  the  cause  of  lameness.  Doble  was 
present  when  Sunol  was  shod,  and  asked  for  sugges- 
tions with  regard  to  Axtell,  but  Mr.  Bonner  evaded 
replying.  It  would  have  been  poor  policy,  as  he  ex- 
plained to  me  and  Mr.  Allen,  to  cut  a  stick  to  beat 
himself  with. 

86 


LELAND  STANFORD  AND  PALO  ALTO 

I  have  before  me  a  notebook  in  which  the  fact 
is  recorded,  that  Mr.  W.  R.  Allen  and  myself  were 
at  Palo  Alto  with  Senator  Stanford  November  i 
and  6,  1889.  The  weather  was  charming,  and  I  won- 
dered if  in  all  the  world  there  could  be  found  greater 
wealth  of  sunshine.  We  sat  in  the  shade  of  a  tree 
and  watched  the  colts  at  work  on  the  miniature  track, 
and  Senator  Stanford  unfolded  at  length  his  theories 
to  us.  When  summoned  to  luncheon  we  had  good 
appetites,  and  we  found  native  and  imported  wines 
on  the  table.  The  Senator  explained  that  he  pre- 
ferred his  own  vintage,  and  that  the  imported  wines 
were  for  his  guests.  We  followed  the  example  of  our 
host  and  were  delighted  with  the  claret  from  the 
Vina  slopes.  Although  Mr.  Allen  had  selected  four 
youngsters  from  the  band  for  which  he  paid  $5000 
each,  Senator  Stanford  declined  to  price  five  others 
that  I  had  marked  in  the  catalogue.  The  explana- 
tion offered  was  that  I  was  familiar  with  his  views 
and  had  selected  what  he  could  not  afford  to  sell. 
Senator  Wm.  S.  Stewart  of  Nevada,  who  was  pres- 
ent, expressed  amazement,  and  Senator  Stanford 
turned  upon  him  somewhat  sharply: 

"  Senator,  I  will  price  anything  you  may  select,  but 
I  will  not  allow  my  friend  from  New  York  to  pick." 

"  The  implication  is,"  said  Senator  Stewart  good- 
naturedly,  "  that  you  do  not  consider  me  much  of  a 
judge." 

One  of  the  yearlings  purchased  by  Mr.  Allen  was 
the  bay  colt  by  Electioneer  out  of  Sprite  by  Belmont, 

87 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

she  out  of  Waterwitch,  and  he  is  now  known  as 
Electrite,  a  successful  sire  of  speed.  One  of  the 
weanlings  was  the  bay  colt  by  Electioneer,  out  of 
Rosemont,  by  Piedmont,  she  out  of  Beautiful  Bells. 
After  leaving  the  palm,  orange,  and  pepper  trees  of 
southern  California,  and  while  looking  out  upon  the 
giant  cacti  of  Arizona,  Mr.  Allen  asked  me  to  sug- 
gest a  name  for  the  Rosemont  colt.  I  recalled  a 
journey  down  the  Pacific  coast  and  a  pleasant  stop 
under  the  palms  and  the  cocoanut  trees  of  Mazatlan, 
where  Mexican  boys  as  naked  as  the  day  they  were 
born  flocked  around  us  to  the  embarrassment  of  the 
ladies,  and  replied :  "  The  name  of  the  town  is  old  and 
musical.  Why  not  call  him  Mazatlan ?"  "I  shall 
do  so,"  responded  Mr.  Allen,  and  so  the  colt  was 
registered.  When  Mr.  Allen  sold  the  stallion,  a 
meaningless  name  was  substituted  for  a  good  one,  the 
excuse  being  that  the  majority  of  people  did  not 
know  how  to  pronounce  the  one  taken  from  the 
western  coast  of  Mexico.  This  reminds  me  of  a 
little  tilt  between  Mr.  Allen  and  Mr.  J.  Malcolm 
Forbes.  Soon  after  the  latter  had  purchased  the  son 
of  Electioneer  and  Manette,  Mr.  Allen  spoke  of 
him  as  ^rion.  Mr.  Forbes  elevated  his  eyebrows 
and  remarked:  "  I  am  surprised  that  a  gentleman 
of  your  education  should  be  guilty  of  faulty  pro- 
nunciation. You  should  say  Anon."  Quick  was  the 
retort.  "  When  you  learn  to  say  Mazatlan  instead 
of  Mazfl/lan,  I  shall  say  Anon,  but  not  until 
then." 


JOHN  W.  CONLEY 


LELAND   STANFORD   AND   PALO   ALTO 

As  a  rule  the  foals  of  Rosemont  inherited  her  bad 
feet,  and  this  is  why  they  did  not  train  on. 

I  quote  from  a  letter  written  to  me  under  date 
of  May  13,  1890,  from  Chicago,  showing  the  san- 
guine view  which  Mr.  John  W.  Conley  took  of  the 
proposed  match  or  matches  between  Axtell  and 
Sunol : 

"  If  the  two  four-year-olds  can  be  brought  to- 
gether, I  think  the  result  both  as  to  performance  and 
financial  success  will  astonish  everyone.  At  the  Ten 
Broeck-Mollie  McCarty  race  the  admission  was 
$2.00  to  the  grandstand  side  of  the  track  and  $1.00 
to  the  field.  About  three  thousand  people  went  into 
the  field,  and,  during  the  afternoon  the  heat  became 
so  intense  (there  were  no  trees  there  for  shade),  that 
at  least  two  thousand  paid  an  additional  dollar  and 
crossed  to  the  other  side.  After  the  race,  we  found 
the  boxes  contained  22,31 1  pay  tickets.  A  very  good 
result,  but,  in  my  judgment,  small  compared  to  what 
may  be  got  out  of  the  Sunol-Axtell  race.  But,  in 
getting  these  two  together  at  the  post,  I  recognize 
the  most  difficult  undertaking  imaginable.  Marvin 
and  Doble  will  each  want  to  feel  that  their  charge  is 
just  right  and  unbeatable.  The  first  named  no  doubt 
fully  appreciates  Mr.  Bonner's  fine  sensibilities,  as 
well  as  his  desire  and  ambition  to  own  in  the  future, 
as  in  the  past,  the  greatest  living  trotter.  He  will 
also  feel  great  responsibility  on  Governor  Stanford's 
account.  In  fact,  to  protect  himself  and  his  em- 
ployer, and  not  disappoint  Mr.  Bonner,  he  will  want 
to  feel  that  his  mare's  condition  is  faultless  and  that 
he  is  fully  prepared  to  battle  for  a  kingdom.  Doble 
is  proud  and  dislikes  a  beating  under  any  circum- 

89 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF    MEN   AND    HORSES 

stances.  In  this  case  he  is  one  of  the  owners  and  is 
fully  alive  to  the  importance  of  winning  or  staying 
in  the  stable.  He  says  there  is  too  much  at  stake 
to  incur  anything  more  than  a  fractional  risk;  that 
Axtell  is  a  stallion,  and  we  cannot  afford  to  have 
him  beaten;  that  in  this  contest  the  best  representa- 
tives of  the  rival  Electioneer  and  Wilkes  family  come 
together,  and  it  would  be  difficult  to  estimate  the 
damage  to  the  defeated  horse.  In  addition  to  this 
I  think  he  feels  it  is  a  contest  of  judgment  and  skill 
between  Marvin  and  himself,  and,  if  he  puts  himself 
in  position  to  be  defeated,  the  public  will  say  his 
judgment  was  bad,  otherwise  he  would  never  have 
started  when  defeat  meant  so  much  to  himself.  In 
view  of  all  this,  and  much  more  that  could  be  said, 
one  sees  what  a  difficult  undertaking  we  have  be- 
fore us." 

It  was  not  the  fault  of  Marvin  or  Sunol  that  the 
rival  four-year-olds  did  not  meet  in  a  desperate  strug- 
gle for  supremacy.  When  Doble  decided  to  keep 
Axtell  in  the  stable,  a  few  exhibitions  were  given 
with  Sunol  and  the  best  mile  she  trotted  in  them  was 
2.ioJ.  At  Belmont  Park,  Philadelphia,  on  Thurs- 
day, September  4,  there  was  an  enormous  crowd  to 
see  Sunol  and  Palo  Alto  perform,  and,  had  not  Mar- 
vin incautiously  pressed  the  hip  of  Sunol  with  his 
knee  around  the  turn,  the  record  of  the  young  mare 
would  then  and  there  have  been  beaten.  As  it  was 
Sunol  lost  her  stride  and  failed. 

The  flying  daughter  of  Electioneer  and  Waxana 
was  taken  back  to  California  that  fall,  and  October 
20,  1891,  at  Stockton,  Marvin  drove  her  to  a  record 

90 


LELAND   STANFORD   AND   PALO   ALTO 

of  2.08  J.  This,  up  to  November,  1904,  ,was  the 
best  high-wheel  record,  but,  as  it  was  on  a  kite-track, 
Mr.  Bonner  did  not  consider  it  as  good  a  performance 
as  that  of  Maud  S.,  2.o8f,  to  high  wheels  on  the 
regulation  track  at  Cleveland,  July  30,  1885.  The 
2.o8i  of  Sunol  placed  her  not  only  at  the  head  of 
all  trotters,  but  of  the  aged-mare  group,  at  the  head 
of  the  three-year-old  group,  the  four-year-old  group, 
and  the  five-year-old  group.  Senator  Stanford  was 
justly  proud  of  having  bred  her,  and  Mr.  Bonner 
felt  proud  in  the  ownership  of  her.  The  fact  that 
the  second  dam  of  Sunol,  Waxy,  was  a  thoroughbred 
daughter  of  Lexington,  was  gratifying  to  breeder 
and  owner,  for  both  Governor  Stanford  and  Mr. 
Bonner  were  strong  advocates  of  the  thoroughbred 
foundation  in  the  trotter.  When  Sunol  was  deliv- 
ered at  the  stable  of  Mr.  Bonner  in  New  York,  in 
December,  1891,  she  was  carefully  measured,  and 
she  stood  sixteen  hands  one-half  inch  forward  and 
sixteen  hands  two  and  one-half  inches  behind.  She 
had  the  speedy  greyhound  quarters  and  her  pro- 
pelling power  was  very  great.  The  first  time  she 
appeared  in  Central  Park  was  in  double  harness  with 
a  steady  horse  used  to  the  stirring  scenes  of  city  life. 
Leland  Stanford  was  a  strong  man,  mentally  as 
well  as  physically.  He  grappled  with  the  rugged 
forces  of  nature  and  carved  his  way  to  fortune.  And 
yet  I  recall  a  scene  that  made  a  painful  impression. 
He  had  landed  in  New  York  from  Europe  after  the 
death  of  his  only  son,  and  in  his  handsome  apart- 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

ments  at  the  Windsor,  I  found  him  a  picture  of  de- 
spair. Photographs  of  the  dead  boy  were  much  in 
evidence,  and  tears  ran  down  the  cheeks  of  the  father 
when  he  spoke  of  his  loss.  I  tried  to  divert  the 
thoughts  of  the  Senator  into  brighter  channels,  but 
there  was  always  a  quick  return  to  the  one  engrossing 
subject.  Several  times  I  arose  to  go,  but  was  urged 
to  remain.  It  looked  as  if  grief  had  caused  the  foun- 
dations of  strength  to  crumble.  Could  it  be  possible 
that  the  tottering  man  before  me  had  been  one  of 
the  stalwart  figures  who  had  joined  the  Atlantic  to 
the  Pacific  by  bands  of  steel,  who  for  years  had 
shaped  the  destinies  of  California  in  the  executive 
chair  at  Sacramento  and  in  the  Senate  chamber  at 
Washington;  who  had  helped  to  turn  the  hills  and 
valleys  of  a  great  territory  into  mines  of  wealth  more 
enduring  than  those  of  silver  and  gold,  and  who  had 
mastered,  as  no  other  man  of  his  time  had  done,  that 
most  difficult  of  problems,  the  moulding  of  equine 
form  to  balanced  action?  Fortunately  this  period 
of  demoralizing  depression  did  not  last,  and  the  next 
time  I  met  Senator  Stanford  he  outlined  the  plans 
of  the  great  university  at  Palo  Alto  in  memory  of  his 
son.  He  said  nothing  of  perpetuating  his  own  mem- 
ory, but  coming  generations,  who  look  upon  the 
stately  group  of  buildings  in  the  valley  where  Elec- 
tioneer achieved  greatness,  will  think  of  the  father 
rather  than  of  the  son. 

The  breeding  and  development  theories  of  Senator 
Stanford,  which  had  stood  the  test  of  ridicule,  were 

92 


LELAND   STANFORD    AND    PALO   ALTO 

adopted  by  other  progressive  breeders  after  success 
had  crowned  them,  and  the  standard  of  the  light 
harness  horse  was  thus  more  rapidly  advanced.  The 
offerings  from  Palo  Alto  paddocks  commanded  fabu- 
lous prices  in  the  market,  and  the  volume  of  speed 
sustained  by  courage  increased  from  year  to  year. 
Mere  capacity  to  fold  the  knee  and  flex  the  hock 
will  not  win  races.  You  must  put  behind  this  action 
the  nervous  energy  and  the  lung  capacity  which  for 
generations  have  been  tested  in  the  Derby  at  Epsom 
Downs.  In  order  to  better  study  action  Senator 
Stanford  took  Muybridge  to  Palo  Alto  and  spent 
some  $50,000  on  instantaneous  photograph  experi- 
ments. The  first  time  I  visited  the  farm  Muybridge 
was  there,  and  the  sensitive  plates  furnished  indis- 
putable evidence  of  motion  at  the  run  and  trot  which 
overthrew  the  preconceived  ideas  of  the  great  paint- 
ers of  the  world. 

As  Senator  Stanford  was  a  man  of  large  fortune 
and  in  the  enjoyment  of  the  prestige  of  success,  peo- 
ple were  disposed  to  pay  him  bigger  prices  for  horses 
than  they  could  be  induced  to  pay  men  less  favorably 
situated.  It  was  assumed  that  he  was  not  compelled 
to  sell,  and  this  whetted  the  desire  to  purchase.  After 
the  death  of  the  Senator  the  fortunes  of  Palo  Alto 
steadily  declined.  The  magic  touch  of  its  creator 
was  lost.  The  foundation  of  the  structure  was  there, 
but  the  steadying  hand  was  absent,  and  the  edifice 
slowly  crumbled. 


93 


CHAPTER  X 

WOODBURN  FARM ALEXANDER BRODHEAD 

THE  Centennial  Anniversary  of  the  acquisition  of 
Woodburn  Farm  by  the  Alexander  family  was  cele- 
brated in  1892.  The  family  is  of  Scottish  origin  and 
Robert  Aitcheson  Alexander  founded  the  breeding 
stud  in  1851.  Lexington  was  his  premier  running 
stallion,  and  his  blood  obtained  prominence  in  some 
of  the  most  distinguished  trotters  of  America.  Alex- 
ander's Abdallah,  Pilot  Jr.,  Edwin  Forrest,  and  Nor- 
man were  the  foundation  trotting  stallions,  and  they 
were  succeeded  by  Woodford  Mambrino,  bought  as 
a  yearling;  Harold,  bought  as  a  yearling;  Belmont, 
and  Lord  Russell.  In  August,  1865,  Mr.  Alexander, 
who  had  suffered  by  the  Civil  War,  advertised  "  on 
account  of  the  unsettled  condition  of  Kentucky,"  a 
large  number  of  thoroughbred  and  trotting  horses 
for  sale. 

Among  the  animals  enumerated  were  Lexing- 
ton, Scythian,  Australian,  Pilot  Jr.  and  Edwin 
Forrest.  Later  he  changed  his  mind,  and  Woodburn 
became  one  of  the  greatest  horse  breeding  establish- 
ments of  the  country.  Mr.  Alexander  was  a  thought- 
ful, unobtrusive  man,  and  I  received  many  valuable 
suggestions  from  him  in  what  might  be  called  my 

94 


WOODBURN   FARM— ALEXANDER 

early  student  days  of  breeding  and  action.  Planet 
was  transferred  to  Woodburn  in  1867,  an^>  'm  mak- 
ing a  note  of  his  purchase,  I  was  prompted  to  say: 
"  He  possesses  good  action;  is  expected  to  cross  well 
on  Woodburn  mares;  and  the  combination  doubtless 
will  produce  some  excellent  trotters."  The  object  in 
purchasing  Planet  was  to  produce  candidates  for  the 
prizes  of  the  running  turf,  but  one  of  the  mares  bred 
by  Mr.  Alexander  was  Dame  Winnie  by  Planet  out 
of  Liz  Mardis  by  Glencoe,  and  she  is  a  distinguished 
mother  of  trotters.  At  the  head  of  her  five  trot- 
ters is  Palo  Alto,  2.o8f,  to  high-wheel  sulky.  The 
guess  I  made  in  my  immature  days  was  happy,  to  say 
the  least  of  it.  Robert  Aitcheson  Alexander  died 
December  i,  1867,  age  48  years,  but  his  work  was 
so  well  grounded  that  his  brother,  A.  J.  Alexander, 
although  not  in  robust  health  and  of  a  retiring  dispo- 
sition, was  able  to  carry  it  forward  and  give  Wood- 
burn  an  enviable  reputation  throughout  the  civilized 
world. 

It  was  in  February,  1865,  that  Alexander's 
Abdallah  and  Bay  Chief  were  captured  by  a  guerrilla 
band.  The  outlaws  were  pursued  and  overtaken, 
and  in  the  fight  that  followed  the  two  stallions  were 
destroyed.  Among  the  trotters  left  by  Abdallah  were 
Goldsmith  Maid,  Rosalind,  and  Thorndale,  with 
records  from  2.14  to  2.22^,  and  high  on  the  roll  of 
his  speed-begetting  sons  are  Belmont,  Almont,  and 
Wood's  Hambletonian.  If  the  life  of  Alexander's 
Abdallah  had  been  preserved,  probably  no  son  of 

95 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

Hambletonian  would  have  excelled  him  as  a  pro- 
genitor of  speed. 

There  are  3200  acres  in  Woodburn  Farm,  the 
choicest  of  Woodford  County,  Kentucky,  and  its 
park-like  appearance  was  wonderfully  attractive  to 
all  eyes,  reminding  traveled  people  of  the  grazing 
estates  of  England.  After  Lucas  Brodhead  had  be- 
come the  manager  of  Woodburn,  visitors  to  the 
farm  multiplied,  and  ladies  as  well  as  gentlemen  were 
in  the  parties  that  cultivated  the  acquaintance  of 
brood  mares  and  colts  under  the  grand  old 
trees. 

Every  lover  of  the  horse  considered  a  day  at  Wood- 
burn  well  spent.  The  courtesy  of  Mr.  Brodhead 
often  was  severely  taxed,  but  his  greeting  was  seldom 
otherwise  than  cordial,  and  he  answered  with  good 
humor  the  multitude  of  questions  fired  at  him.  It 
was  my  privilege  to  spend  many  nights  under  the  roof 
of  Mr.  Brodhead  with  distinguished  guests,  and  the 
discussions  which  took  place  enlarged  my  knowledge 
of  breeding  questions.  Just  think  of  the  stallions  that 
passed  from  Woodburn  to  become  famous  on  other 
farms:  Almont,  Nutwood,  Princeps,  Wedgewood, 
Pancoast,  Woodford  Mambrino,  Swigert,  Tattler, 
Abdallah  Pilot,  King  Rene,  Egmont,  McCurdy's 
Hambletonian,  Attorney,  Mambrino  Russell,  Her- 
mes, Nugget,  Mambrino  Dudley,  Bayard,  Shelby 
Chief,  Meander,  Hospodar,  Pilot  Mambrino,  Red- 
wood, Viking,  Oberlin,  Conway,  Kremlin,  Hartford, 
Binderton,  Waterloo,  Re-Election,  Nutbourne,  Lord 

96 


WOODBURN   FARM— ALEXANDER 

Russell,  and  Pistachio.  The  brood  mares  included 
Miss  Russell,  Midnight,  Bicara,  Eventide,  Vara, 
Alice  West,  Rosebush,  Bessie  Forrest,  Dame  Winnie, 
Dalphine,  Fadette,  Woodbine,  Mother  Hubbard, 
Waterwitch,  Indiana,  Young  Portia,  Barcena,  Mal- 
maison,  Vanity  Fair,  Sue  Dudley,  Dahlia,  Primrose, 
Mayenne,  Madame  Temple,  Yolande,  Silence,  Cora 
Belmont,  Belle,  Belle  Dudley,  Tulip,  Noon- 
day, Lady  Russell,  Abbess,  Hermosa,  Black  Rose, 
Juliet,  Diana,  Daireen,  Ethelberta,  Ulva,  Gray 
Goose,  Bland  Temple,  and  Noontide.  These  founda- 
tions of  form  and  action  were  scattered  over  the 
entire  country  and  contributed  immeasurably  to  the 
volume  of  light  harness  speed.  When  Maud  S.  and 
Jay-eye-see  were  on  the  crest  of  the  wave,  and  the 
topic  of  every  wide-awake  breakfast  table,  the  sim- 
ple fact  that  their  dams,  Miss  Russell  and  Midnight, 
had  grazed  in  Woodburn  pastures,  sent  thousands  of 
enthusiasts  and  eager  buyers  to  the  farm.  Later, 
Kremlin,  in  his  duel  with  Stamboul  for  the  stallion 
crown,  and  Alix,  in  her  resolute  fight  for  the  throne, 
emphasized  the  value  of  Woodburn  blood  for  extreme 
speed,  and  the  buying  fever  was  thus  kept  alive.  I 
still  retain  the  report  of  sales,  public  and  private, 
sent  me  by  Mr.  Brodhead  in  the  latter  part  of  1896, 
and  reproduce  it : 


97 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF    MEN   AND    HORSES 


WOODBURN   FARM. 

TROTTING   STOCK   SOLD 


YEAR 

NO.  HEAD 

AVERAGE 

TOTAL 

PUBLIC  SALE 

AVERAGE 

1866 

68 

$333.00 

$22,702.00 

1867 

16 

296.00 

4,744.00 

1668 

31 

424.00 

13,167.00 

1869 

29 

892.00 

25,874.00 

1870 

21 

795.00 

16,700.00 

13  head 

$319.00 

1871 

13 

531.00 

6,905.00 

9 

328.00 

1872 

23 

655.00 

15,065.00 

17 

336.00 

1873 

22 

439.00 

9,660.00 

16 

294.00 

1874 

31 

366.00 

11,350.00 

27 

294.00 

1875 

43 

404.00 

17,380.00 

30 

244.00 

1876 

51 

226.00 

11,555.00 

39 

127.00 

1877 

33 

308.00 

10,175.00 

1878 

5 

960.00 

4,800.00 

1879 

32 

707.00 

22,645.00 

1880 

39 

573.00 

22,350.00 

1881 

16 

820.00 

13,130.00 

1882 

11 

1,172.00 

12,900.00 

1883 

20 

895.00 

17,900.00 

1884 

26 

782.00 

20,350.00 

1885 

17 

994.00 

16,900.00 

1886 

17 

1,650.00 

36,300.00 

1887 

13 

2,406.00 

31,300.00 

1888 

44 

2,563.00 

112,800.00 

1889 

16 

2,213.00 

35,415.00 

1890 

34 

3,768.00 

128,136.00 

6 

1,114.00 

1891 

19 

1,726.00 

32,800.00 

1892 

19 

2,222.00 

42,220.00 

16 

1,763.00 

1893 

13 

1,411.00 

18,350.00 

1894 

15 

300.00 

4,510.00 

11 

164.00 

1895 

5 

1,760.00 

7,800.00 

1896 

12 

118.00 

1,421.00 

12 

118.00 

98 


WOODBURN    FARM— ALEXANDER 

It  was  in  1880  that  Maud  S.  trotted  to  a  record  of 
2. i of,  and  the  very  next  year  the  average  rose  to 
$820,  which  advanced  to  $1172  in  1882.  It  was  in 
1884  that  Jay-eye-see  trotted  to  a  record  of  2.10  and 
Maud  S.  to  a  record  of  2.09^,  and  it  was  in  1885 
that  Maud  S.  reduced  the  high-wheel  record  to  2.o8|. 
The  tide  began  to  rise  at  Woodburn,  17  head  in 
1886,  aggregating  $36,300,  and  13  head  in  1887, 
averaging  $2406.  In  1888  the  average  for  44  head 
was  $2563,  and  high  tide  was  reached  in  1890,  when 
34  head  sold  privately  for  $128,136,  an  average  of 
$3768.  In  1896,  when  the  business  situation  was  de- 
pressed, and  the  talk  was  of  Nancy  Hanks  and  Alix, 
who,  having  the  advantage  of  the  bicycle  sulky,  had 
carried  the  record  down  to  2.04  and  to  2.03!,  the 
Woodburn  average  dropped  to  $118.  This  was  the 
beginning  of  the  end  of  the  historic  breeding  farm. 
It  was  then  that  much  talk  was  heard  about  the 
cheapening  influence  of  the  28-inch  pneumatic  tire 
sulky. 

J.  H.  Wallace,  who  bitterly  opposed  Woodburn, 
because  the  management  would  not  bow  to  his  will, 
sneered  at  the  establishment  as  hunting  for  tin  cup 
records,  and  January  n,  1888,  Mr.  Brodhead  wrote 
me:  "I  send  you  a  full  list  of  the  horses  to  which 
we  have  given  cup  records : 


1885— Viking        (4  yrs.  old)  2.24^—1886  race  record 
1886— Zuba  (4  yrs.  old)  2.28f— 1887,  2.24J  when  in  foal. 

1886— Muskova    (3  yrs.  old)  2.28J  Sold 

1886— Altamura  (3  yrs.  old)  2.30  Sold 

99 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF    MEN   AND    HORSES 

1886— Persica       (3  yrs.  old)  2.29  —1887,  lowered  to  2.28f. 

1887— Puella  2.29  while  in  foal  to  Abbotsford. 

Broke  down  at  three-quarter  pole 
and  came  home  on  three  legs." 

This  meager  list  plainly  showed  that  the  critic 
had  overshot  the  mark. 

In  forwarding  the  list  Mr.  Brodhead  said: 

"  I  am  prompted  to  write  you  on  a  subject  of  great 
importance  to  the  trotting  horse  breeders,  and  ask  you 
to  lend  your  help  in  preserving  about  the  only  priv- 
ilege the  breeder  has  left,  the  right  to  give  his  horses 
public  records  for  cups  or  premiums.  There  is  a 
disposition  to  circumscribe  and  cut  off  the  breeder, 
strictly  speaking,  from  any  possibility  of  showing  the 
speed  of  his  horses,  without  he  goes  into  some  cir- 
cuit and  organizes  a  racing  stable  with  all  of  its 
expense,  to  say  nothing  of  the  trouble  and  annoyance 
of  the  management.  For  the  sake  of  getting  records 
in  races,  a  breeder  sends  his  trainer  from  home  with 
two  or  three  animals,  at  the  most  important  season 
of  the  year,  leaving  the  rest  of  his  stock  to  be  worked 
by  grooms  at  a  time  when  they  need  the  most  ex- 
perienced handling.  When  once  in  the  circuit,  in 
order  to  secure  the  desired  record,  the  trainer  fre- 
quently has  not  only  to  defeat  his  honest  antagonists, 
but  pool-box  combinations,  more  formidable  ob- 
stacles than  horses  or  watches.  On  the  other  hand 
a  breeder  can  keep  his  head  trainer  at  home  all  the 
season  attending  to  the  breeding  of  mares,  breaking 
young  animals,  speeding  the  older,  and  in  the  fall 
send  him  to  the  nearest  association  track,  with  such 
of  his  horses  as  he  wishes  to  give  records.  The 
trainer  is  from  home  only  a  week,  and,  with  light 
expense,  exhibits  to  the  public  such  speed  as  he  has. 

100 


WOODBURN   FARM— ALEXANDER 

The  training  necessary  to  prepare  a  young  horse  for 
a  cup  performance  is  light  as  compared  with  the 
fitting  for  a  hard  race,  and  there  is  much  less  danger 
of  injury  to  young  animals,  a  very  important  consid- 
eration to  those  who  are  breeding  to  sell.  Now,  as 
regards  the  effect  that  cup  performances  have  on  the 
strictly  racing  community,  especially  drivers  who  do 
nothing  but  trot  horses  in  races.  A  professional 
driver  wants  every  horse,  but  his  own,  forced  to  trot, 
and  take  a  record  at  the  limit  of  his  speed.  The 
sooner  a  horse  gets  into  a  class  where  he  has  to  trot 
his  best,  the  better  it  is  for  good  sport  and  pure 
racing.  How  much  better  it  is  for  the  circuit  drivers 
that  Sable  Wilkes  has  a  record  of  2.18,  than  if  he 
were  a  maiden  and  could  be  entered  in  the  slower 
classes,  where  a  walk-over  would  probably  result. 
In  the  2.18  class  there  is  a  chance  to  beat  him,  at  any 
rate  his  measure  has  been  taken,  and  he  is  eliminated 
from  the  uncertain  quantities.  As  a  four-year-old  we 
gave  Viking  a  cup  record  of  2.24^,  with  very  little 
work,  and  at  an  expense  of  say  $10.  This  advertised 
the  horse,  and  we  sold  him  for  three  times  what  he 
would  have  brought  on  a  private  trial.  This  record 
forced  him  into  the  2.25  class  as  a  five-year-old,  where 
he  won  all  his  races  except  one.  His  cup  record  did 
not  prove  him  a  single-heat  trotter,  which  some 
writers  seem  to  argue  is  the  natural  result  of  allowing 
cup  records.  Viking  is  a  fair  illustration  of  the 
benefits  of  these  performances.  The  breeder  demon- 
strated to  the  public  at  very  little  cost  the  speed  of 
his  horse  and  tripled  his  value,  besides  the  collateral 
benefit  accruing  to  sire,  dam,  sisters,  and  brothers. 
The  purchaser  bought  the  horse  on  a  public  per- 
formance, and  not  on  a  private  trial.  The  public 
had  some  measure  of  his  speed,  and  he  was  forced 

IQI 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF    MEN   AND    HORSES 

into  a  class  where  he  was  beaten  one  race.  Another 
benefit  to  the  breeder  is  in  being  able  to  breed  a 
young  brood  mare  in  the  spring,  and  with  light,  inex- 
pensive work  give  her  a  record  in  the  fall  better  than 
2.30 — when  fitting  for  a  race  would  have  been  dan- 
gerous to  the  mare  and  her  foal.  Besides  demon- 
strating her  speed,  the  breeder  gets  the  use  of  the 
mare.  To  illustrate  this  point  the  Messrs.  Lewis 
bred  their  mare  Mist  to  Lord  Russell,  gave  her  a 
light  training,  and  in  the  fall  gave  her  a  record  of 
2.29^.  The  colt  she  carried  they  sold  as  a  yearling 
for  $1750 — of  more  value  than  several  races  she 
might  have  won  if  she  had  not  been  bred.  Again,  a 
breeder  has  a  valuable  stallion;  he  can  make  a  full 
season  in  the  stud,  and  with  slight  preparation  fit 
him  for  a  cup  performance.  He  gets  the  full  benefit 
of  the  horse's  services  and  shows  publicly  his  speed 
for  the  benefit  of  his  patrons,  without  injurious  over- 
work. In  these  cup  records  there  is  no  effort  made 
to  deceive,  or  claim  that  they  are  as  good  an  evi- 
dence of  staying  quality,  as  if  made  in  a  hotly  con- 
tested sixth  heat.  They  are  a  demonstration  of  speed 
alone.  As  for  staying  quality,  we  have  bred  horses 
so  long,  and  pedigrees  and  family  characteristics  are 
so  well  known,  that  we  can  generally  tell  from  the 
pedigree  whether  an  animal  is  likely  to  repeat  or  not. 
Records  made  in  a  race  are  not  satisfactory  evidence 
of  staying  quality  in  the  animal,  for  every  horseman 
knows  of  several  stallions  that  have  numerous  pro- 
geny in  the  2.30  list,  nearly  all  of  whose  records 
were  made  in  contested  races,  still  the  public  verdict 
is  that  their  get  are  not  stayers  and  want  a  short 
race.  On  the  other  hand,  we  know  that  Jay-eye-see 
and  Maud  S.  are  the  gamest  of  their  kind,  because 
in  a  dash  of  a  mile  they  have  demonstrated  their 

102 


LUCAS  BRODHEAD 


WOODBURN   FARM— ALEXANDER 

ability  to  carry  their  speed,  and  a  sustained  effort, 
longer  than  other  horses.  Other  horses  have  shown 
about  as  much  speed  as  these  two,  but  could  not 
carry  it  a  full  mile.  I  have  written  you  fully  on  this 
subject,  because  I  think  you  are  in  sympathy  with 
the  idea  and  give  you  some  arguments  in  favor  of 
cup  records  that  in  the  press  of  your  work  may  not 
have  occurred  to  you.  I  have  written  this  letter  to 
you  personally,  not  for  publication.  I  have  not  the 
time  to  shape  the  ideas  up  for  public  reading. 

;<  When  you  open  this  I  know  you  will  think  you 
have  struck  another  advocate  of  Clay  blood.  You 
will  know  better  next  time  than  to  address  me  even 
a  short  inquiry.  Still,  if  at  any  time  I  can  serve  you, 
let  me  know. 

"  Very  truly  yours, 

"  LUCAS  BRODHEAD." 


The  sensible  arguments  advanced  by  Mr.  Brod- 
head  and  other  thoughtful  breeders  were  given  pub- 
licity by  me,  and  violent  opposition  to  so-called  tin 
cup  records  ceased.  It  was  the  recollection  of  this 
heated  controversy  which  induced  me  in  September, 
1903,  to  address  a  formal  letter  to  William  Russell 
Allen,  President  of  the  American  Trotting  Register 
Association,  protesting  departure  from  the  rigid  rules 
which  have  placed  all  records  on  a  footing  of  equality. 
The  decision  of  the  Board  composed  of  the  Presi- 
dents of  the  three  governing  associations,  was  that 
no  record  can  be  made  with  a  wind  shield,  and  that 
"  a  performance  with  pacemaker  in  front  with  dirt 
shield  shall  be  recorded  with  a  distinguishing  mark 

103 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

referring  to  a  note  stating  the  fact."  Time  records 
should  not  be  made  easier  of  accomplishment  than 
race  records.  As  shields  are  barred  from  the  regular 
races,  why  not  from  contests  against  the  watch  ?  The 
Trotting  Congress  of  1906  put  up  the  bar. 

Woodburn  had  never  made  much  use  of  the 
George  Wilkes'  blood,  and  on  this  account  some  peo- 
ple found  fault  with  the  management.  In  January, 
1889,  Mr.  Brodhead  wrote  me: 

"  Put  King  Wilkes  at  the  top  of  our  advertisement 
of  trotting  stallions.  As  he  is  a  late  addition,  I  want 
to  make  the  fact  of  our  owning  him  conspicuous. 
We  gave  $15,000  cash  for  him.  During  the  past 
year  I  have  been  greatly  impressed  with  King  Wilkes 
as  a  stock  horse,  his  fine  disposition,  pure  gait,  and 
reliability  as  a  foal  getter.  The  horse  has  been  much 
abused  in  management,  and  will  now  have  his  first 
good  opportunity  as  a  sire." 

King  Wilkes  was  a  brown  horse  foaled  in  1876  by 
George  Wilkes  out  of  Missie,  the  producing  daugh- 
ter of  Brignoli  by  Mambrino  Chief,  and  he  ob- 
tained his  record  of  2.22^  in  a  stubborn  race  of 
divided  heats.  His  son,  Oliver  K.,  was  a  circuit 
sensation  in  1880,  and  trotted  in  the  fourth  heat  of 
a  race  to  a  record  of  2.16^.  After  the  death  of 
Harold,  sire  of  Maud  S.,  and  Belmont,  sire  of  Nut- 
wood, Lord  Russell,  brother  of  Maud  S.  and  sire 
of  Kremlin,  2.07!,  was  the  recognized  head  of  the 
trotting  stallions  at  Woodburn.  In  the  summer  of 
1895  Lord  Russell  got  cast  in  his  box  and  injured 

104 


WOODBURN   FARM— ALEXANDER 

his  hind  leg  severely.  It  was  for  this  reason  that  a 
record  was  not  put  on  him.  Wallace  made  frequent 
attacks  on  Woodburn  pedigrees,  and,  under  date  of 
September  6,  1887,  Samuel  J.  Look,  a  well-known 
horseman,  wrote  to  me  from  Louisville: 

'  There  has  appeared  every  now  and  then  in  Wal- 
lace's Monthly  the  statement  that  the  late  R.  A. 
Alexander  had  imposed  upon  him  spurious  pedigrees. 
Those  who  knew  him  know  that  no  man  in  Kentucky 
in  his  time  was  so  well  posted  in  pedigrees,  and 
none  was  more  careful  and  thorough  in  his  investiga- 
tions. He  made  no  mistakes.  He  was  the  one  man 
that  sharpers  avoided." 

Miss  Russell  was  a  gray  mare  foaled  in  1865,  and 
by  Pilot  Jr.,  dam  Sally  Russell  by  Boston,  sire  of 
Lexington;  second  dam  Maria  Russell,  by  Thorn- 
ton's Rattler;  third  dam  Miss  Shepherd  by  Stock- 
holder; fourth  dam  Miranda  by  Topgallant,  and 
fifth  dam  by  imp.  Diomed.  After  her  son  Nutwood 
and  her  daughter  Maud  S.  had  obtained  prominence, 
persistent  attempts  were  made  to  cloud  the  pedigree 
of  her  dam,  Sally  Russell.  April  13,  1883,  Lucas 
Brodhead  wrote  to  Colonel  S.  D.  Bruce,  my  asso- 
ciate, editor  of  the  "  American  Stud  Book  " : 

"  My  attention  has  just  been  called  to  Wallace's 
attack  on  the  pedigree  of  Sally  Russell.  The  old 
scamp  knows  that  you  lost  in  the  fire  all  of  your 
original  letters  and  papers,  on  which  you  obtained 
the  data  for  the  first  volume  of  your  *  Stud  Book.' 

105 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF    MEN   AND    HORSES 

He  knows  by  this  fact  that  your  hands  are  tied  in 
a  measure,  and  makes  the  attack  and  throws  the 
burden  of  proof  on  us.  It  will  be  very  hard  at  this 
late  day  to  establish  so  old  a  pedigree,  but  it  does 
seem  strange  that  in  1857,  tne  mare  being  published 
in  our  catalogue  as  by  Boston,  someone  would 
not  have  controverted  the  statement,  the  mare  being 
only  seven  years  old,  and  many  men  then  living  know- 
ing the  stock  and  pedigree.  I  think  that  Captain 
Holton  or  Captain  John  Russell  may  have  bred  Sally 
Russell.  If  there  is  anything  that  you  know  about 
the  pedigree,  or  any  inquiry  that  you  wish  to  make 
here  that  will  assist  you,  let  me  know.  If  this  thing 
goes  on,  there  won't  be  a  pedigree  left  in  your  Stud 
Book,  that  Wallace  will  not  throw  a  cloud  over." 

June  13,  1883,  Mr.  Brodhead  addressed  a  letter 
to  me,  from  which  I  extract: 

"I  went  at  once  to  see  Holton  and  found,  as  I 
expected,  that  he  knew  absolutely  nothing  of  Maria 
Russell's  produce,  and  little  more  about  Maria  Rus- 
sell than  that  she  had  won  a  race  at  Forks  of  Elk- 
horn.  I  enclose  you  a  letter  from  L.  Holton  to  J. 
H.  Wallace,  which  speaks  for  itself.  I  felt  sorry 
for  Holton  while  talking  with  him.  He  felt  that 
he  had  been  manipulated." 

Three  days  later  I  received  "  Memoranda  concern- 
ing Sally  Russell  sent  to  H.  Busbey  of  New  York, 
for  use  in  whatever  way  he  deems  proper.  They 
are  merely  notes  not  to  be  published  in  this  shape." 
I  gave  the  facts  in  my  own  way  to  the  public,  and 
now  reproduce  the  notes : 

106 


WOODBURN   FARM— ALEXANDER 

"  As  regards  the  age  of  Sally  Russell,  and  there 
being  no  bid  for  her  in  1868  at  sale,  the  following 
are  the  facts: 


1862  Barren 

1863  Slipped  foal  to  imp.  Scythian 

1864  Slipped  foal  to  Alexander's  Abdallah 

1865  and    1866    bred    to    imp.    Australian 

(Australian  was  an  uncertain  foal 
getter). 

1868  Bred    to    imp.    Australian.      April    29 
was    her   last   service   and    she   was 
Sally  Russell.     •{  bred   regularly   until   sold   on   June 

27,  1868,  and  having  refused,  it 
was  presumed  she  was  in  foal.  She 
was  sold  June  27,  1868  to  J.  G.  Bal- 
lantyne,  now  of  Pulaski,  Tennessee, 
and,  as  he  writes  me,  *  killed  herself 
soon  after  on  the  farm  of  Mr. 
Gratz.'  We  have  mares  that  have 
foals  but  once  in  five  or  six  years." 

The  evidence  which  Woodburn  collected  and 
which  I  published  from  time  to  time  convinced  every 
intelligent  and  unprejudiced  man  that  Sally  Russell 
was  a  daughter  of  Boston. 

January  7,  1893,  Mr.  Brodhead  wrote  to  me: 

"  Doubtless  you  have  read  J.  H.  Wallace's  tirade 
on  the  Maud  S.  pedigree.  I  intend  to  bring  the  pedi- 
gree before  the  Executive  Committee  of  the  Ameri- 
can Trotting  Register  Association  on  January  17, 
and  write  to  ask  that  you  send  me  the  original  state- 
ments of  witnesses  that  I  sent  you  in  1883,  if  you 
have  preserved  them.  I  can  prove  the  pedigree  be- 
yond a  doubt  with  what  I  have,  but  it  would  be  well 
to  have  the  statements  of  Gresham,  Dillon,  etc.  The 
matter  is  hardly  worth  the  trouble,  but  I  want  to 
shut  the  old  skunk's  mouth  in  an  official  way,  and 

107 


RECOLLECTIONS   OF  MEN  AND    HORSES 

convict  him  of  malicious  libel  on  one  of  the  best 
established  pedigrees  in  the  Stud  Book.  I  have  all 
the  evidence  in  print  as  it  came  out,  but  would  like 
the  originals." 

I  had  preserved  the  sworn  statements,  and  sent 
them  to  Mr.  Brodhead.  Wallace  failed  to  appear 
before  the  Board  of  Censors  of  the  Executive  Com- 
mittee of  the  Register  Association,  although  duly 
notified,  and,  after  carefully  going  through  the  evi- 
dence, the  official  decision  was  that  Sally  Russell 
was  by  Boston,  dam  Maria  Russell  by  Thornton's 
Rattler. 

Yearly  I  went  to  Woodburn,  and,  whether  it  was 
in  the  spring  or  autumn,  I  paid  my  respects  to  Miss 
Russell.  Usually  I  found  her  in  the  shade  of  a  wide- 
branching  tree,  with  only  gray  squirrels  for  com- 
panions and  looking  the  reserved  and  aristocratic 
dame  that  she  was.  Speed  came  from  her  in  ever 
increasing  volume,  and  her  fame  spread  over  the 
land  and  even  beyond  the  oceans.  The  first  time  I 
saw  her  she  was  in  tender  leaf,  and  the  last  time  I 
looked  upon  her  she  was  old  and  faded  and  ready 
to  fall.  I  was  not  surprised  when  I  received  the 
following : 

"  SPRING  STATION,  KY.,  Sept.  21,  1898. 
"  MY  DEAR  BUSBEY:  Day  before  yesterday,  Sep- 
tember 19,  late  in  the  afternoon,  Miss  Russell  passed 
away.  She  has  been  failing  for  some  time  and  the 
end  was  not  unexpected.  We  buried  her  yesterday 
at  the  starting  post  of  our  track,  beside  Harold  and 

108 


WOODBURN  FARM— ALEXANDER 

Belmont.  Her  history  you  know  as  well  as  I  know 
myself.  I  did  not  know  that  she  was  dead  until 
yesterday  morning,  and  thought  of  telegraphing  you, 
but  knew  that  I  would  be  too  late  for  this  week's 
issue  of  your  paper,  and  concluded  to  write. 
"  Very  sincerely  yours, 

"L.  BRODHEAD." 

As  a  three-year-old  Miss  Russell  trotted  a  trial 
in  2.44,  and  in  the  stud  she  produced: 

1870,  ch.  c.,  Nutwood  (sold  1880,  record  2.i8|), 
by  Belmont. 

1871,  b.  f.,  Lady  Nutwood  (died  young),  by  Bel- 
mont. 

1872,  gr.  f.,  Cora  Belmont   (sold  1873,  record 
2.24^),  by  Belmont. 

1874,  ch.  f.,  Maud  S.  (sold  1875,  record  2.o8|), 
by  Harold. 

1875,  ch-  f-j  (died  in  1875),  by  Harold. 

1877,  gr.  c.,  Nutbourne  (sold  1877,  trial  2.26^), 
by  Belmont. 

1878,  ch.  c.,  Mambrino  Russell  (sold  1878),  by 
Woodford  Mambrino. 

1879,  ch.  f.,  Nutula   (bred  at  3  yrs.  old,  never 
trained),  by  Belmont. 

1880,  gr.  f.,  Russella  (sold  1880),  by  Harold. 

1881,  b.  c.,  Lord  Russell  (sire  of  Kremlin,  2.07!), 
by  Harold. 

1882,  gr.  f.,  Lady  Russell   (bred  in  1886),  by 
Harold. 

109 


RECOLLECTIONS   OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

1883,  gr.  f.,  Russia  (record  2.28,  bred  in  1887), 
by  Harold. 

1884,  missed  to  Harold. 

1885,  gr.  c.,  Pilot  Russell  (sold  1887),  by  Har- 
old. 

1886,  ch.  c.,  Pistachio  (sold  1890,  record  2. 2 if), 
by  Belmont 

1887,  gr.  f.,  Rusina  (sold  1888),  by  Belmont. 

1888,  b.  f.,  Rustique  (sold  1890,  record  2.18^), 
by  Electioneer. 

1889,  b.  f.,  Suffrage   (sold  to  Allen  Farm),  by 
Electioneer. 

1890,  gr.  c.,  Sclavonic  (sold  1894,  record  2.09!), 
by  King  Wilkes. 

Pistachio  and  Sclavonic  are  pacers,  and  just  pre- 
vious to  his  death  Nutwood  wlas,  under  the  speed 
standard,  the  greatest  of  living  sires.  Lord  Russell, 
Mambrino  Russell,  Nutbourne,  and  Pistachio  are  sires 
of  speed,  and  Cora  Belmont,  Nutula,  Rusina,  Lady 
Russell,  Russia,  Rustique,  and  Suffrage  are  dams  of 
speed.  Maud  S.  died  without  issue.  The  speed 
descending  from  Miss  Russell  will  steadily  increase 
as  the  years  go  by.  Her  monument  is  in  her  children 
and  their  children.  She  has  2586  descendants  in 
the  2.30  list,  and  85  in  the  2.10  list.  She  is  the  only 
mare  that  has  produced  2.10  speed  in  the  first,  sec- 
ond, third,  fourth,  and  fifth  generations. 

Although  Woodburn  Farm  stood  for  so  many 
years  in  the  very  front  rank  of  breeding  establish- 
no 


WOODBURN   FARM— ALEXANDER 

ments,  A.  J.  Alexander  grew  weary  of  it.    February 
20,  1901,  Mr.  Brodhead  wrote  me: 

"  We  are  doing  nothing  at  present  in  the  way  of 
breeding  horses  at  Woodburn.  At  our  sale  of  trot- 
ters, where  we  sold  all  of  our  mares  and  stallions, 
we  reserved  all  animals  two  years  old  and  younger. 
We  now  have  these  on  hand  and  have  been  breaking 
them,  and  some  time  in  the  near  future  will  sell 
them.  They  are  now  four,  three  and  two  years  old, 
and  those  that  we  have  handled  show  great  speed. 
We  have  about  twenty  head  of  shorthorns  and  may 
gradually  build  up  a  herd.  Mr.  Alexander  takes 
great  personal  interest  in  them.  We  are  grazing 
beef  cattle  and  raising  sheep  quite  extensively,  which 
is  quite  a  slow  business  for  me,  but  my  outside  interests 
in  Chicago  and  other  places  have  become  so  great 
that  I  really  have  not  the  time  to  actively  engage  in 
the  breeding  of  horses.  My  great  regret  in  being 
out  of  the  horse  business  is  losing  touch  with  my  old 
friends.  I  believe  that  I  regret  Allen  and  yourself 


most." 


Alexander  John  Alexander  died  in  the  latter  part 
of  1902,  and  now  Woodburn  is  but  a  memory.  I  am 
glad  that  I  saw  so  much  of  it  when  it  was  making 
history  that  will  endure.  As  Mr.  Alexander  was 
never  in  robust  health,  and  of  a  retiring  disposition, 
visiting  delegations  to  Woodburn  saw  very  little  of 
him,  but  much  of  Mr.  Brodhead,  whose  authority 
was  unquestioned.  The  enemies  of  Woodburn  sin- 
gled out  Mr.  Brodhead  rather  than  Mr.  Alexander 
for  attack,  and  thus  the  romantic  cottage  of  the  man- 

iii 


RECOLLECTIONS   OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

ager  was  looked  upon  as  the  real  business  headquar- 
ters of  the  farm.  After  the  death  of  Mr.  Alexander 
Mr.  Brodhead  bought  a  fine  tract  of  land  in  the  out- 
skirts of  Versailles,  and  built  on  it  a  house  for  his 
old-time  friends,  as  well  as  for  himself,  and  there 
the  fires  burn  cheerfully  in  spacious  rooms  and  typify 
the  integrity  and  happiness  of  home. 


112 


CHAPTER  XI 

THE   TRANSYLVANIA — CORNING — HAVEMEYER 

THE  woodlands  were  inviting  in  the  October  sun- 
shine, but  all  roads  leading  to  Lexington  were 
crowded  with  pleasure  seekers.  Only  those  fettered 
by  labor  heard  the  noon-day  songs  of  birds  in  orchard 
and  meadow,  or  counted  ears  of  golden  corn.  The 
women  wore  their  smartest  frocks  and  the  men  were 
groomed  as  if  for  a  wedding.  It  was  Transylvania 
Day,  and  the  holiday  fever  took  possession  of  the 
community.  The  whisper  had  gone  all  over  Blue 
Grass  land  that  the  Phoenix  and  other  hotels  were 
crowded  to  the  roof  with  visitors  from  distant  cities 
who  literally  fought  for  places  at  the  dinner  table, 
and  the  country  could  not  resist  the  desire  to  mingle 
with  the  town.  The  good  church  people  did  not  go 
to  the  track  to  see  the  horses.  Oh,  no.  The  magnet 
for  them  was  the  musical  programme.  The  band 
concerts  excused  in  a  measure  the  betting  shed  at  the 
far  end  of  the  grand  stand  and  the  clink  of  glasses 
underneath.  How  rosy  were  the  cheeks  of  the  girls, 
what  depths  of  light  in  their  eyes,  and  how  graceful 
their  movements !  You  have  not  seen  the  best  fruits 
of  Blue  Grass  until  you  have  strolled  on  the  lawn 
and  looked  up  at  the  crowded  grand  stand  on  Tran- 
sylvania Day.  It  is.  a  bright  picture  that  you  gladly 


RECOLLECTIONS   OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

frame  in  memory  and  carry  with  you  until  life  ends 
in  shadow.  In  October,  1893,  Transylvania  Day 
was  fair,  and  a  fair  face  looked  with  expectant  eyes 
out  upon  the  track  and  across  the  ragged  edge  of  the 
city  to  where  the  tall  shaft,  which  marks  the  grave  of 
Henry  Clay,  pierces  the  Blue.  One  of  the  leading 
candidates  for  track  honors  had  been  reared  by  her 
father,  Erastus  Corning,  and  the  daughter,  Har- 
rietta,  had  journeyed  from  Albany  to  witness  the 
effort  of  her  namesake.  The  brown  mare  by  Al- 
cyone was  bred  by  Mr.  Corning,  as  was  her  dam, 
Harriet  Clay  out  of  Mercedes  by  Cuyler,  and  he  had 
named  her  in  honor  of  his  daughter,  the  joy  of  his 
household.  Erastus  Corning  was  the  former  owner  of 
Harry  Clay  and  in  breeding  Harriet  Clay  to  the  black 
stallion  he  joined  speed-supporting  blood  to  action- 
giving  blood.  Mercedes  was  a  daughter  of  Emma 
Arteburn,  who  was  by  Mambrino  Patchen  out  of 
Jennie  Johnson,  a  thoroughbred.  The  mare  Harrietta 
and  the  girl  Harrietta  had  seen  much  of  each  other  at 
Albany,  and  now  the  two  were  for  the  first  time  to- 
gether in  Kentucky,  and  the  question  was  whether  the 
meeting  would  end  in  rejoicing  or  disappointment. 
Crit  Davis  drove  Harrietta  with  great  skill,  and,  when 
the  last  heat  had  been  trotted,  her  record  was  2.09!, 
and  the  official  decision  was  in  her  favor.  I  sat  with 
Mr.  Corning  and  his  daughter  during  the  race,  and, 
when  the  announcement  was  made  that  Harrietta 
had  won  the  Transylvania  in  the  fastest  time  up  to 
that  date,  the  spirit  of  which  rare  Ben  Jonson 

114 


&} 
> 

< 

6 

a: 


ON 


THE   TRANSYLVANIA— CORNING 

sweetly  sang  seemed  to  take  possession  of  the  young 
lady: 

"  Her  treading  would  not  bend  a  blade  of  grass, 
Or  shake  the  downy  blow-ball  from  his  stalk! 
But  like  the  soft  west  wind  she  shot  along, 
And  where  she  went,  the  flowers  took  thickest  root 
As  she  had  sowed  them  with  her  odorous  foot." 

The  gallant  Kentuckians,  good  losers  as  well  as 
good  winners,  turned  their  eyes  to  the  Corning  group 
and  swung  their  hats  and  cheered.  It  was  a  proud 
moment  for  the  New  Yorkers,  and  there  was  no 
shadow  upon  their  visit  to  Lexington. 

Later  Harrietta  passed  to  Mr.  H.  O.  Havemeyer, 
who  drove  her  on  the  road  in  single  and  double 
harness,  and  who  finally  made  a  brood  mare  of  her 
on  his  farm  at  Commack,  L.  I.  Mr.  Havemeyer 
was  one  of  the  early  visitors  to  Stony  Ford,  and  he 
once  thought  that  he  had  a  world-beater  in  Mara- 
thon, but  the  horse  went  wrong,  and  his  owner  was 
called  upon  to  nurse  a  disappointment.  The  road 
horse  has  been  Mr.  Havemeyer's  recreation  all  his 
life,  and  one  of  his  earnest  rivals  in  his  mature  years 
was  Colonel  Oliver  H.  Payne.  On  a  noble  hill,  mid- 
way between  Stamford  and  Greenwich,  and  which 
commands  a  view  of  Long  Island  Sound,  dear  to  the 
soul  of  every  yachtsman,  and  which  permits  the  eye 
to  sweep  all  the  surrounding  country,  Mr.  Have- 
meyer has  a  summer  home  dedicated  to  domestic 
comfort.  The  breeze  finds  you  somewhere  on  the 
extensive  piazzas  on  the  hottest  of  days,  and  it  kisses 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

you  into  cheerfulness,  albeit  you  may  now  and  then 
think  regretfully  of  the  sweltering  city.  H.  O. 
Havemeyer  is  a  great  reader  of  standard  works  and 
has  thorough  knowledge  of  political  economy.  His 
reply  to  a  committee  in  Washington  that  the  Tariff 
is  the  Mother  of  Trusts,  made  a  profound  impres- 
sion upon  the  country,  and  echoes  of  it  will  not  die. 
On  one  of  my  visits  to  Palmer  Hill,  Mr.  Havemeyer 
asked  me  to  take  a  seat  in  a  pony  cart,  and  then 
he  got  between  the  shafts  and  dragged  me  over  the 
big  floor  of  the  stable.  He  did  this  in  order  that 
the  poise  of  the  vehicle  could  be  more  satisfactorily 
tested.  When  I  surrendered  the  seat,  he  bowed  to 
me  and  said  with  mock  gravity,  "  You  probably 
will  not  forget  this  little  ride.  What  would  some  of 
your  friends  say  if  you  should  tell  them  that  the 
President  of  the  Sugar  Trust  had  played  horse  for 
your  edification?  "  It  was  indeed  a  novel  ride,  and 
I  am  not  likely  ever  to  forget  it. 

Mr.  Havemeyer  is  a  sincere,  although  bluff-spoken, 
man.  His  life  is  studiously  plain  for  one  of  his 
position,  and  it  is  a  pleasure  to  talk  with  a  man  so 
well-grounded  in  knowledge.  He  has  a  critical  ear 
for  music,  and  plays  the  violin  at  his  home  concerts. 
The  best  musical  talent  is  gathered  under  his  roof 
at  the  Sunday  concerts.  The  Long  Island  Breeding 
Farm  of  Mr.  Havemeyer  is  well  appointed,  and  the 
owner  finds  much  enjoyment  among  his  horses.  He 
has  studied  the  principles  of  breeding  and  knows 
what  he  is  about.  The  Havemeyer  of  those  who 

116 


THE   TRANSYLVANIA—CORNING 

have  known  him  for  a  third  of  a  century  is  totally 
different  from  the  Havemeyer  of  the  popular  concep- 
tion. If  you  will  listen  to  him  long  enough,  you  will 
lose  your  appetite  for  what  that  strong  man  of  the 
people,  Speaker  Joseph  G.  Cannon,  calls  "  Trust- 
busting." 


117 


CHAPTER  XII 

C.   J.   HAMLIN   AND  VILLAGE   FARM 

CICERO  J.  HAMLIN  was  born  in  November,  1819,  in 
western  Massachusetts,  and  I  recall  a  visit  with  him 
to  Pittsfield  in  the  vigorous  days  of  his  mature  life 
when  he  pointed  out  the  changes  that  had  taken 
place  there  since  he  was  a  boy.  When  a  young  man 
he  embarked  in  the  business  of  general  storekeeper 
at  East  Aurora,  Erie  County,  N.  Y.,  and  the  little 
economies  that  he  was  forced  to  practice  colored  to 
some  extent  his  future  career.  The  passion  for  driv- 
ing a  keen  bargain  never  deserted  him,  and  he  would 
resist  as  earnestly  an  unjust  tax  of  five  cents  as  one 
of  $500.  The  father  of  ex-President  Millard  Fil- 
more  was  one  of  the  men  who  traded  at  his  country 
store,  and  he  used  to  tell  with  dry  humor  the  remark 
the  old  gentleman  made  when  three  eggs  out  of  a 
proffered  dozen  were  rejected.  "  Well,  I  suppose 
I  shall  have  to  take  them  back  home  and  me  and 
my  wife  will  try  to  eat  them."  After  Mr.  Hamlin 
had  accumulated  a  little  money  at  East  Aurora  he 
moved  to  Buffalo  and  rapidly  built  up  a  reputation 
as  a  dry  goods  merchant.  His  investments  in  real 
estate  were  made  with  rare  judgment,  and  his  suc- 
cessful development  of  the  glucose  industry  greatly 

118 


C   J.    HAMLIN   AND   VILLAGE   FARM 

swelled  his  fortune.  Early  in  life  he  fell  in  love  with 
the  trotting  horse,  and,  when  money  matters  became 
easy  with  him,  he  bought  a  small  farm  at  East  Aurora 
and  started  in  a  modest  way  to  breed  trotters.  His 
first  stallion  was  Hamlin  Patchen  (foaled  in  1863) 
by  Geo.  M.  Patchen,  dam  Mag  Addison  by  Addison. 
He  chose  him  because  he  regarded  him  as  a  worthy 
son  of  a  handsome  stallion,  George  M.  Patchen, 
2.23^,  whose  imposing  form  on  the  track  compelled 
admiration.  Hamlin  Patchen  was  almost  a  failure 
as  a  sire  of  trotters,  but  his  daughters  were  success- 
ful brood  mares,  and  the  line  was  thus  preserved  from 
extinction.  Belle  Hamlin,  2.i2f,  Mr.  Hamlin's  first 
fast  trotter,  was  out  of  Toy,  a  daughter  of  Hamlin 
Patchen,  and  she  drew  public  attention  to  the  value 
of  the  blood  for  foundation  purposes.  In  July,  1866, 
the  programme  of  the  "  Grand  Trotting  Fair  at 
Buffalo  "  was  sent  me,  and  the  liberality  of  the 
premiums,  which  amounted  to  $10,500,  was  the  sub- 
ject of  comment.  The  prominent  members  of  the 
committee  in  charge  of  the  enterprise  were  Wm.  G. 
Fargo,  R.  L.  Howard,  C.  J.  Wells,  Jewett  Rich- 
mond, M.  P.  Bush,  and  C.  J.  Hamlin.  The  latter 
gentleman  soon  became  the  dominating  spirit  of  the 
committee,  and  the  successful  meetings  did  more  to 
advertise  Buffalo  than  anything  else  that  had  been 
suggested.  The  premium  list  was  steadily  increased 
until  it  reached  a  maximum  of  $70,000,  and  C.  J. 
Hamlin  was  the  autocrat  of  the  August  meeting.  He 
suggested  the  Grand  Circuit,  which  at  first  was  com- 

119 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

posed  of  the  tracks  at  Cleveland,  Buffalo,  Utica,  and 
Springfield.     Mr.  Hamlin  named  his  breeding  estab- 
lishment at  East  Aurora  Village  Farm,  and  he  en- 
larged it  by  the  purchase  of  such  stallions  as  Hamlin's 
Almont    Jr.,    Mambrino    King,    Chimes,    and    Rex 
Americus.    The  latter  was  by  Onward  out  of  Gleam 
by  Dictator,  and  in  1892,  after  trotting  as  a  two- 
year-old  against  the  watch  in  2.15^,   Mr.  Hamlin 
authorized  his  trainer,   Edward   F.   Geers,   to  pay 
$15,000  for  him  if  he  liked  him  upon  close  examina- 
tion.   I  was  with  Mr.  Hamlin  at  the  old  Planters7 
Hotel  in  St.  Louis  when  the  check  for  Rex  Americus 
was  drawn,  and  when  he  discovered  that  the  colt 
was   not   free   from   blemish   he    did   not   whimper 
over  the  transaction,  but,  when  an  error  of  twenty-five 
cents  in  his  hotel  bill  was  brought  to  light,  he  de- 
manded instant  correction,  and  the  clerk  discovered 
that  a  millionaire  could  not  be  imposed  upon.     Rex 
Americus   transmitted  speed,   but  was  handicapped 
with  a  head,  the  roughening  influence  of  which  Mam- 
brino King  and  Almont  Jr.  could  not  always  over- 
come.   I  had  many  an  earnest  talk  with  Mr.  Hamlin 
over  introducing  a  factor  in  his  breeding  establish- 
ment, which  would  disturb  the  symmetry  of  the  type 
which  he  had  been  at  such  pains  to  create,  and  in  the 
end  he  agreed  with  me.     He  emphasized  beauty  of 
heads,  and  yet  for  a  while  he  used  a  stallion  whose 
head  was  decidedly  faulty.     In  one  of  his  talks  with 
me,  Mr.  Hamlin,  who  had  severely  criticised  the 
George  Wilkes  family,  said : 

120 


C   J.    HAMLIN   AND   VILLAGE    FARM 

"  The  disposition  to  trot  was  the  only  quality  that 
commended  George  Wilkes  to  me.  His  progeny 
lacked  snap  and  beauty  and  were  far  from  uniform. 
The  dilution  of  the  blood  improved  the  family.  I 
have  a  good  specimen  in  Rex  Americus.  In  breed- 
ing him  to  Beautiful  Chimes,  daughter  of  Chimes 
and  Maid  of  Honor  by  Mambrino  King,  I  got  Ameri- 
can Belle,  who  closed  her  successful  three-year-old 
campaign  with  a  record  of  2.12^.  She  is  an  improve- 
ment upon  Rex  Americus." 

Here  an  admission  was  made  that  it  was  necessary 
to  bring  in  other  blood  to  overcome  the  angular 
qualities  of  Rex  Americus,  who  had  inherited  unde- 
sirable qualities  from  the  dam  of  Onward. 

A  sale  catalogue  that  I  have  preserved  reminds 
me  of  an  incident  in  the  life  of  C.  J.  Hamlin.  It 
was  in  April,  1882,  and  I  had  gone  to  Louisville 
with  Mr.  Robert  Bonner.  Mr.  Hamlin  had  joined 
us  there,  and  we  usually  took  our  meals  together  at 
the  Gait  House.  On  Sunday  Mr.  Bonner  went  to 
church  with  a  distinguished  gentleman,  while  I  drove 
out  to  Glenview  Farm  with  Mr.  Hamlin.  One  of 
the  animals  that  attracted  attention  was  Halcyon,  a 
bay  filly  three  years  old  by  Cuyler  out  of  Lady  Ab- 
dallah  by  Alexander's  Abdallah.  Mr.  Hamlin  asked 
me  what  I  thought  of  her,  and  I  explained  that  she 
had  been  put  in  the  sale  to  tempt  Mr.  Bonner,  he 
having  admired  her  on  a  previous  visit  to  Mr.  Mc- 
Ferran.  "  Am  I  to  understand  that  you  do  not 
wish  me  to  bid  on  the  filly?  "  asked  Mr.  Hamlin. 

121 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

"  No,  I  shall  make  no  request  of  the  kind.  I  simply 
tell  you  that  Mr.  Bonner  will  try  to  buy  her." 

The  next  day,  when  Halcyon  was  brought  before 
the  auctioneer,  Mr.  Bonner  started  her  at  what  he 
thought  she  was  worth,  $1000,  wishing  to  make  short 
work  of  it.  To  the  general  surprise  the  bid  was 
instantly  advanced  to  $1500.  Quick  as  a  flash  Mr. 
Bonner  called  out  $2000.  The  return  bid  was  equally 
as  prompt,  $2500,  and  by  steps  of  $500  the  amount 
climbed  to  $4000,  at  which  Mr.  Bonner  became  the 
purchaser.  We  marveled  at  this  strange  proceed- 
ing, because  we  had  figured  that  Halcyon  would  be 
dear  at  $1500.  Mr.  Bonner,  however,  was  put  on 
his  mettle  and  would  not  stop.  Later,  we  found 
out  that  Mr.  Hamlin  was  the  opposing  bidder,  and 
his  explanation  was  that  he  wanted  to  see  if  Mr. 
Bonner  was  really  game — if  he  could  be  made  to 
turn  tail.  Halcyon  was  a  nervous  piece  of  horse- 
flesh, and  Mr.  Bonner  made  a  brood  mare  of  her 
after  experimenting  with  her  on  the  trotting  track. 

I  recall  another  occasion  when  the  Bonner  and 
Hamlin  minds  were  in  opposition.  It  was  at  the 
Hamlin  residence  on  Delaware  Avenue  in  Buffalo, 
and  I  was  the  only  witness.  After  dinner  Mr. 
Hamlin  brought  up  the  subject  of  shoeing,  and  an- 
tagonized the  opinions  of  Mr.  Bonner.  The  conver- 
sation became  intense,  and  voices  rose  to  such  a 
pitch  that  I  was  apprehensive  the  policeman  on  the 
block  would  give  us  a  call.  After  it  was  all  over 
Mr.  Hamlin  apologized  and  explained  that  he  had 

122 


C.   J.    HAMLIN   AND   VILLAGE   FARM 

stirred  up  his  guest  in  order  to  get  the  freest  ex- 
pression of  opinion  from  him.  There  were  points 
about  shoeing  which  Mr.  Bonner  would  not  give 
away  unless  when  thoroughly  aroused,  and  Mr. 
Hamlin  nagged  him  for  the  purpose  of  adding  to  his 
own  fund  of  knowledge.  I  often  wish  that  a  ste- 
nographer could  have  been  present  to  preserve  this 
striking  of  fire  between  two  resolute  flints,  because 
it  certainly  would  have  added  to  the  entertainment 
of  thousands  of  readers.  The  Bonner  and  Hamlin 
intellects  were  remarkably  keen,  and  each  man  was 
in  truth  the  architect  of  his  own  fortune. 

Mambrino  King  was  a  dark  chestnut  horse,  by 
Mambrino  Patchen,  dam  Belle  Thornton  by  Edwin 
Forrest,  second  dam  Brown  Kitty  by  Birmingham, 
thoroughbred  son  of  Stockholder  by  Archy,  and  he 
was  the  idol  of  his  breeder,  Dr.  L.  Herr  of  Lexing- 
ton, Ky.  He  was  ten  years  old  in  1882,  and  traveled 
critics  had  pronounced  him  the  handsomest  horse 
in  the  world.  After  his  failure  to  buy  Halcyon  at 
Louisville,  Mr.  Hamlin  took  the  train  for  Lexington, 
and,  under  date  of  April  18,  18.82,  he  wrote  me: 

"  My  return  to  Lexington  was  for  the  purpose  of 
buying,  if  possible,  Dr.  Herr's  Mambrino  King,  he 
being,  I  believe,  the  grandest  horse  in  existence.  Cer- 
tainly I  have  never  looked  upon  his  equal.  To  get 
him  I  paid  exactly  what  the  doctor  priced  him  at, 
and  it  was  a  very  large  sum  of  money.  My  main 
object  in  purchasing  King  is  to  cross  him  with  mares 
by  Almont  Jr.  and  vice  versa,  insuring  me,  I  trust, 

123 


RECOLLECTIONS   OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

colts  of  good  size  with  great  beauty,  style,  and  speed. 
Before  closing  the  purchase  Dr.  Herr  showed  me 
King,  both  at  the  bridle  and  in  harness.  Although 
he  had  not  been  harnessed  since  last  fall,  when  led 
out  and  being  hitched  to  the  sulky  he  was  perfectly 
quiet  and  docile,  standing  still  when  the  doctor  got 
up  to  drive  him.  I  just  liked  him  more  and  more, 
and  at  once  closed  the  bargain.  If  Dr.  Herr  is  not 
square,  I  am  no  judge  of  men.  Dr.  Herr  and  his 
son  told  me  they  had  often  timed  Mambrino  King, 
when  in  stud  condition,  quarters  in  34  and  35  sec- 
onds. At  the  Lexington  Fair  in  1880  his  colored 
groom  drove  him  two  half  miles  in  1.14  each,  in  the 
presence  of  a  large  crowd  of  people." 

The  transfer  of  Mambrino  King  from  Kentucky 
to  Village  Farm  helped  amazingly  Mr.  Hamlin's 
breeding  industry.  The  envious  sneered  at  King  as 
a  "  dude  stallion,"  but  the  handsome  chestnut  silenced 
opposition  by  winning  championship  honors  in  the 
show  ring,  and  by  begetting  sons  and  daughters  that 
developed  gameness  and  a  high  rate  of  speed  in 
Grand  Circuit  battles.  The  fastest  trotter  by  Mam- 
brino King  is  Lord  Derby,  2.05!,  and  the  fastest 
trotter  out  of  one  of  his  daughters  is  The  Abbot, 
2'°3i»  The  plastic  thoroughbred  strains  in  Mam- 
brino King  contributed  largely  to  his  success  in  the 
show  ring  and  on  the  track.  Previous  to  the  coming 
of  Mambrino  King  to  Village  Farm,  Mr.  Hamlin 
was  a  persistent  advocate  of  short  races,  and  his 
enemies  charged  that  his  advocacy  was  prompted  by 
a  knowledge  of  the  fact  that  the  sons  and  daughters 

124 


C.   J.    HAMLIN   AND   VILLAGE   FARM 

of  Almont  Jr.  were  faint-hearted.  After  Mambrino 
King  had  proved  his  worth,  races  of  divided  heats 
were  much  to  the  liking  of  Mr.  Hamlin.  The  pro- 
prietor of  Village  Farm  often  said  to  me  that  he 
was  not  such  a  stubborn  fool  as  to  refuse  to  whirl 
about  when  he  discovered  that  he  was  on  the  wrong 
track. 

It  was  in  1877  and  1888  that  I  furnished  the  pub- 
licity channel  for  the  memorable  controversy  be- 
tween Mr.  Hamlin  and  General  Benjamin  F.  Tracy 
and  others  on  the  value  of  nonspeed-developed  stal- 
lions and  mares  in  the  breeding  stud.  General  Tracy, 
who  owned  Mambrino  Dudley  and  Kentucky  Wilkes, 
both  stallions  with  fast  records  for  that  day,  ably 
contended  that  the  use  of  a  faculty  intensified  it  for 
transmission,  and  ranged  on  his  side  were  such  gen- 
tlemen as  Henry  C.  Jewett,  C.  F.  Emery,  J.  I.  Case, 
William  L.  Simmons,  and  Geo.  A.  Singerly. 

I  have  before  me  the  original  of  the  letter  sent  to 
me  by  Mr.  Hamlin,  dated  April  16,  1888,  and,  as 
it  summarizes  about  all  that  can  be  said  in  favor  of 
undeveloped  stallions,  I  make  room  for  it  notwith- 
standing its  length. 


125 


CHAPTER  XIII 

HAMLIN  AND   SPEED  DEVELOPMENT 

Buffalo,  April  16,  1888. 

The  snow  covered  the  ground  when  I  first  offered 
to  trot  over  any  good  track,  equally  accessible  to 
challenged  and  challenger,  four  of  the  get  of 
Mambrino  King,  foaled  in  1885,  bred,  raised,  de- 
veloped and  owned  at  Village  Farm,  against  any 
four  of  the  same  age,  bred,  raised,  developed  and 
owned  by  the  owner  of  any  stallion  having  a  record 
of  2.22  and  better,  the  said  four  to  have  been  sired 
after  the  stallion  had  obtained  his  fastest  record. 
There  has  been  any  quantity  of  wind,  but  no  one 
has  stepped  to  the  front  with  an  acceptance  of  the 
challenge,  although  the  grass  is  now  turning  green 
in  the  fields.  I  have  not  run  from  the  offer  or 
dodged  in  any  way  and  still  stand  ready  to  do  as 
I  said  I  would  do.  I  have  simply  declined  to  with- 
draw the  original  challenge  and  accept  counter  prop- 
ositions. General  Tracy,  who  somewhat  rashly 
declared  in  the  early  part  of  the  controversy  that 
he  would  not  as  a  rule  breed  to  a  stallion  which  had 
not  shown  an  ability  to  trot  in  2.20,  has  had  hard 
work  to  square  himself  with  established  facts,  and 
his  last  effort  was  a  labored  one.  The  proprietor 
of  Marshland  is  a  logician,  and  I  frankly  confess 
that  I  know  of  no  one  interested  in  breeding  who 
could  so  well  write  up  his  side,  still  it  seems  to  me 
that  the  General  might,  with  much  less  work,  have 
produced  a  far  better  argument  on  the  other  side. 

126 


HAMLIN   AND   SPEED  DEVELOPMENT 

Had  he  given  as  much  thought  to  a  legal  question  as 
he  has  to  this  breeding  topic,  his  fee,  I  am  sure,  would 
not  have  been  short  of  $1000.  I  classed,  it  will 
be  remembered,  among  undeveloped  stallions,  found- 
ers of  trotting  families  like  Hambletonian,  Mam- 
brino  Chief,  Gen.  Knox,  Black  Hawk,  Almont, 
Golddust,  Bashaw,  and  Mambrino  Patchen;  sires 
of  2. 20  producing  rank  such  as  Aberdeen,  Belmont, 
Edward  Everett,  Louis  Napoleon,  Messenger  Duroc, 
Kentucky  Prince,  Masterlode,  Strathmore,  Red 
Wilkes,  and  Walkill  Chief;  transmitters  of  2.14 
records,  like  Harold,  Dictator,  Volunteer,  Conk- 
lin's  Abdallah,  Happy  Medium,  Alexander's  Ab- 
dallah,  and  Princeps,  and  this  classification  stands 
unshaken,  not  having  been  assailed  with  anything 
more  dangerous  than  a  quibble.  The  list  is  formid- 
able and  the  theory  that  I  uphold  rests  upon  a  foun- 
dation of  adamant.  I  do  not  propose  to  follow 
General  Tracy's  example  and  waste  time  on  supposi- 
tion. The  issue  turns  not  on  what  might  have  been, 
but  what  has  been  and  is.  We  know  that  the  ma- 
jority of  successful  stallions  were  not  fully  developed 
in  harness,  were  not  overworked  for  the  sake  of 
a  fast  record,  and  I  contend  that  the  conclusion  log- 
ically follows  that  their  success  was  in  a  large  meas- 
ure due  to  the  fact  that  their  vital  force  was  not 
sapped  or  impaired  by  track  campaigns.  Their  abil- 
ity for  producing  speed  was  not  weakened  by  much 
scraping,  scoring,  and  severe  physical  exertion.  The 
exposition  of  nature's  laws  made  by  General  Tracy 
has  a  chestnut  flavor.  It  is  a  rehash  of  Darwin,  who 
had  given  no  study  to  the  principle  governing  action 
in  the  American  trotter.  Mr.  Wallace  has  been 
repeating  the  dogma  for  years  that  trotting,  like 
pointing,  is  purely  a  matter  of  instinct;  that,  if 

127 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

you  want  a  fast  trotter,  you  must  breed  a  fast  trotter 
to  a  fast  trotter,  and,  if  you  want  a  fast  runner,  you 
must  breed  a  fast  runner  to  a  fast  runner.  Governor 
Stanford  has  demonstrated  at  Palo  Alto  that  you 
can  breed  a  runner  of  the  right  conformation  and 
temperament  to  a  trotter  and  get  a  trotter  with  a 
high  degree  of  certainty.  Another  case  is  that  of 
Fanny  Witherspoon — fastest  two  mile  record.  In 
the  sum  of  inherited  habits  there  are  two  kinds  of 
action,  but  the  blending  is  such  that  one  helps  the 
other.  The  intense  stride  of  the  trotter  is  lengthened 
and  the  speed  proportionately  increased.  General 
Tracy  will  have  to  make  his  law  of  heredity  a  little 
more  elastic.  When  he  appeals  to  history  he  is  met 
with  the  fact  that  the  fastest  performers  are  not 
from  record-crowned  individuals.  The  stallions 
through  which  the  lines  were  transmitted  were  not 
developed — did  not  have  the  trotting  habit  intensi- 
fied by  use,  by  severe  tests  on  the  track.  I  will  start 
with  Messenger,  the  thoroughbred  runner.  He  got 
Mambrino,  a  thoroughbred;  he  got  Abdallah,  he 
Hambletonian,  he  Harold,  and  he  Maud  S.,  2.o8f, 
the  fastest  and  gamest  trotter  to  date.  Not  one  of 
the  male  ancestors  of  the  queen  was  ever  developd 
in  harness  to  a  record.  Now  take  the  female  line 
of  the  stallions — Amazonia,  Charles  Kent  mare,  En- 
chantress— all  undeveloped.  The  dam  of  Maud  S. 
herself  was  by  Pilot  Jr.,  who  has  no  record,  and  her 
dam  was  by  Boston,  a  runner.  From  the  beginning 
to  the  end  no  habit  of  harness  action  was  intensified 
by  use  on  the  track,  no  stallion  or  dam  was  cam- 
paigned, much  less  trained,  to  a  record  of  2.22  and 
better,  and  yet  the  outcome  is  the  fastest  trotter 
that  the  world  has  seen.  Probably  it  was  a  good 
thing  that  the  trotting  habit  was  not  strengthened 

128 


GEORGE  B.  RAYMOND 


HAMLIN    AND    SPEED   DEVELOPMENT 

and  intensified  by  severe  work  in  the  ancestors  of 
Maud  S.,  for,  had  their  vitality  been  sapped  by  over- 
development, we  should  not  have  had  2.o8J.  I 
would  rather  use  the  brother  or  sister  of  a  great 
performer  in  the  stud  than  the  performer  itself,  and 
in  this  I  am  backed  up  by  so  good  an  English  au- 
thority as  the  late  Admiral  Rous.  The  brother  or 
sister  has  the  conformation,  courage,  and  instinct 
to  go  fast,  and  his  or  her  vitality  is  of  virgin 
strength  and  purity.  The  foal,  to  develop  into  a 
perfect  horse,  cannot  be  charged  with  too  much  vital 
force  at  the  very  inception  of  its  career.  I  do  not 
look  upon  Jay  Gould  as  a  phenomenal  sire.  He 
is  twenty-four  years  old  and  has  but  five  with  records 
of  2.25  and  better,  and  one  of  these,  King  Philip, 
2.21,  was  got  before  he  obtained  his  record.  Jay 
Gould  was  not  severely  campaigned.  He  trotted 
twelve  heats  in  1872,  and  five  heats  in  1874,  and 
his  record  is  2.2iJ,  not  2.20^,  as  stated  by  General 
Tracy.  Let  us  be  accurate  as  we  move  along  in  this 
discussion.  Governor  Sprague  made  his  record  of 
2.2o£  in  1876,  and  his  fastest  performer,  Kate 
Sprague,  2.18,  was  foaled  in  1875.  Ethan  Allen 
made  his  record  of  2.25^  in  1860,  and  he  sired 
previous  to  this,  Pocahontas,  2.26^,  trial  2.17!; 
Billy  Barr,  2.23!,  and  Hotspur,  2.24.  George  M. 
Patchen  made  his  fastest  record,  2.23^,  after  he  had 
got  his  fastest  performer,  Lucy,  2.i8i.  Thorndale, 
2.224,  sired  Edwin  Thorne,  2.i6i,  and  Daisydale, 
2.19!,  before  Doble  drove  him  to  his  record,  and 
Oliver  K.,  2.i6J,  the  sole  jewel  in  the  crown  of  King 
Wilkes,  was  got  before  his  sire  made  a  record  of 
2.224.  These  are  but  straws  showing  how  strongly 
the  current  of  confirmed  truth  flows  to  the  support 
of  the  undeveloped  sire  theory. 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

I  quote  a  simple  paragraph  from  General  Tracy's 
labored  article :  "  The  fast  road  mare  has  produced 
a  son  or  daughter  that  could  trot  faster  than  she 
could,  and  so  we  have  gone  on  from  generation  to 
generation,  each  succeeding  generation  of  horses  be- 
ing able  to  speed  faster  than  the  one  that  preceded 
it.  And  thus  by  the  law  of  the  survival  of  the 
fittest  we  have  produced  a  horse  that  has  no  equal 
at  the  trotting  gait."  I  have  no  objection  to  a  mare 
intended  for  the  breeding  stud  being  trained  within 
moderation,  but  if  the  General  wishes  the  public  to 
understand  that  the  queens  of  the  turf,  when  rele- 
gated to  the  harem,  have  produced  faster  performers 
than  themselves,  he  is  all  at  sea.  The  severely  cam- 
paigned mares  have  either  proved  sterile  or  failures 
in  the  stud.  The  crown  passed  from  Lady  Suffolk 
to  Flora  Temple,  then  to  Lady  Thorn  and  Gold- 
smith Maid,  and  I  have  yet  to  learn  that  either  of 
these  ever  produced  a  trotter  as  fast  as  herself.  The 
ex-queens  of  the  turf  were  failures  in  the  stud  be- 
cause long  training  and  severe  tasks  had  sapped  or 
dried  up  the  juices  of  vitality.  I  have  stated  that 
George  Wilkes  was  an  exception  among  developed 
sires  and  have  declined  to  admit  that  a  rule  can 
be  proved  by  an  exception  to  it.  George  Wilkes  was 
a  sluggish  horse  and  he  lost  just  three  times  as  many 
heats  as  he  won,  and,  after  going  to  Kentucky,  he 
had  the  aid  of  fresh  and  highly-bred  mares.  These 
supplied  the  vitality  which  he  could  not  impart  him- 
self; and  the  hundreds  of  foal-owning  Kentuckians, 
each  entitled  to  rank  as  a  professor  in  a  training 
school,  did  the  rest.  No  family  was  ever  worked 
with  and  boomed  as  was  the  George  Wilkes  family, 
and  yet,  under  the  2.20  test,  Electioneer,  an  unde- 
veloped stallion,  by  an  undeveloped  sire,  out  of  an 

130 


HAMLIN   AND   SPEED   DEVELOPMENT 

undeveloped  dam,  outranks,  with  less  than  half  the 
number  of  performers,  George  Wilkes.  My  mas- 
querading friend,  Mr.  Wm.  L.  Simmons,  tried  to 
mislead  the  uninformed  on  this  point  by  crowding 
pacing  and  saddle  performances  into  the  2.20  list  of 
George  Wilkes,  but  the  trick  did  not  blind  any  ordi- 
nary student  of  the  2.30  table.  Mr.  Simmons  is  an 
intelligent  man,  and  I  regret  that  he  should  have 
stooped  to  such  a  quibble  in  a  dignified  discussion. 
If  the  theories  of  some  writers  prevailed,  George 
Wilkes  would  receive  a  black  mark  for  every  pacer 
sired  by  him.  We  are  breeding  for  trotters,  not 
pacers. 

Wedgewood's  fast  performers  were  got  before  he 
obtained  his  record  of  2.19.  General  Tracy  explains 
his  failure  in  New  England  on  the  ground  that  he 
there  met  the  average  New  England  mare,  which 
falls  far  short  of  the  Woodburn  mare.  Was  it  not 
wasted  vitality  on  the  part  of  the  stallion  rather  than 
the  absence  of  quality  in  the  mare?  There  are  many 
good  mares  in  New  England,  and  Wedgewood,  on 
account  of  his  fee  and  reputation,  got  the  best  of 
these. 

Look  at  Wood's  Hambletonian,  an  undeveloped 
stallion.  He  spent  his  life  in  an  out-of-the-way 
Pennsylvania  village,  where  his  opportunities  were 
far  below  those  of  Wedgewood  in  New  Eng- 
land, and  yet  eighteen  of  his  get  trained  to  records 
of  2.30  and  better,  the  fastest  being  that  of  Nancy 
Hackett,  2.20.  Was  this  due  to  chance  or  to  a  fixed 
law;  of  Nature  ?  The  ancestors  of  Wood's  Hamble- 
tonian were  virtually  undeveloped  like  himself.  The 
habit  of  action  was  not  intensified  in  them  or  him  by 
use.  Alexander's  Abdallah,  sire  of  Wood's  Ham- 
bletonian, started  in  just  two  races  and  his  record  is 


RECOLLECTIONS   OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

2.42,  which  is  twenty  seconds  slower  than  my  limit 
of  2.22. 

General  Tracy  should  not  accuse  me  of  dodging, 
because  I  have  not  accepted  propositions  entirely  dif- 
ferent from  those  proposed  in  my  original  challenge. 
He  suggested  that  he  had  one  three-year-old  by  Mam- 
brino  Dudley,  Virginia  Evans,  a  tried  filly,  and  I 
agreed  to  trot  a  Mambrino  King  of  the  same  age 
against  her.  I  also  offered  to  modify  my  plans  so 
as  to  trot  one  two-year-old  by  Mambrino  King  and 
one  two-year-old  by  Almont  Jr.  against  one  two- 
year-old  by  Kentucky  Wilkes  and  one  two-year-old 
by  Mambrino  Dudley.  This  does  not  seem  to  be 
satisfactory.  The  General  wants  to  make  a  blind 
dive  into  the  future.  He,  like  myself,  is  old  enough 
to  be  content  with  the  things  of  the  present.  I  am 
sorry  that  he  is  so  hard  to  please. 

My  neighbor  and  friend,  Mr.  Jewett,  is  monot- 
onously pacific.  He  has  a  stallion  with  a  faster 
record  than  2.22  and  he  has  more  than  four  three- 
year-olds  in  training  by  him,  and  yet  he  will  not  meet 
the  reasonable  test  proposed.  He  will  not  trot  the 
get  of  Jerome  Eddy,  2.16^,  against  the  get  of  Mam- 
brino King,  an  undeveloped  stallion,  for  a  bouquet, 
a  yard  of  ribbon,  or  for  money.  All  he  asks  is  a 
fee  of  $200  from  deluded  farmers  and  to  be  let 
alone.  He  will  not  even  entertain  my  offer  to  trot 
the  get  of  a  $10  Village  Farm  stallion  against  any 
horse  ever  sired  at  Jewett  Stock  Farm.  And  some 
people  call  him  a  plucky  man,  an  enterprising 
breeder!  When  a  ground  hog  proves  to  you  by  un- 
mistakable signs  that  he  is  dead,  what  is  the  use  of 
spending  time  and  physical  effort  in  digging  him 
out  of  the  hole  ? 

Mr.  Wallace  has  the  assurance  to  talk  about  dou- 

132 


HAMLIN   AND   SPEED   DEVELOPMENT 

ble-riveted  facts,  and  yet  he  pompously  corrected 
me  when  I  stated  that  Mambrino  Chief,  Almont, 
and  other  founders  of  families  belonged  to  the  un- 
developed class.  To  quote  his  own  words:  "  All 
had  records  and  all  were  quite  fully  developed." 
The  simple  truth  is  that  Mambrino  Chief  never 
started  in  a  race,  was  never  over-trained,  and  never 
got  a  record,  while  Almont  trotted  just  one  heat  in 
public,  and  the  time  of  it  was  2.39!.  What  am  I 
to  think  of  a  man  who  erects  a  standard  upon  a 
record,  and  who  does  not  seem  to  have  mastered  the 
A  B  C  of  truth?  Mr.  Wallace  is  superficial  outside 
of  his  office,  as  well  as  in  it.  He  was  seen,  imme- 
diately after  Belle  Hamlin  had  trotted  in  2.13!,  at 
Cleveland,  surrounded  by  a  group  of  cross-roads  stud- 
horse keepers,  and  was  overheard  expounding  with 
solemn  gravity  the  law  to  them.  One  of  my  friends 
joined  the  group,  and,  when  the  dictum  was  echoed 
that  the  2.13!  would  not  be  accepted  as  a  record, 
he  offered  to  bet  $100  to  $10  that  the  compiler  was 
in  error.  When  Secretary  Fasig  was  told  what  a 
fool  Wallace  was  making  of  himself  down  on  the 
lawn,  he  stepped  across  the  track  and  had  the  judges 
announce  within  the  hearing  of  all  that  the  perform- 
ance was  for  a  cup,  under  the  rule,  and  that  it  was 
a  public  record.  Had  it  not  been  for  the  prompt  ac- 
tion of  Mr.  Fasig,  some  of  the  cross-roads  fellows 
would  probably,  on  the  strength  of  a  Wallace  deci- 
sion, have  lost  the  entire  profits  of  the  summer  stud- 
horse campaign.  Belle  Hamlin's  2.13!  was  double 
riveted.  It  was  a  record  under  National  rules  and 
a  record  under  registration  rules,  because  she  had, 
previous  to  the  performance,  a  record  of  better  than 
2.20.  In  the  October,  1887,  number  of  his  magazine, 
Mr.  Wallace  came  out  flat-footed  for  mile-heat  con- 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

tests.  Then  he  had  no  quarrel  with  Belle  Hamlin, 
and  among  other  things  he  said:  "The  objection 
that  a  two-in-three  race  does  not  show  the  4  bottom  ' 
of  the  performers  has  nothing  in  it,  but  the  claim 
that  it  would  cut  off  a  large  percentage  of  receipts 
from  the  sale  of  pools  is  probably  valid,  and  right 
here  is  where  the  war  against  the  reform  will  have 
its  stronghold.  The  gamblers,  whether  they  be  in 
the  sulkies,  or  surrounding  the  pool-box,  will  be  apt 
to  fight  it  to  the  bitter  end  without  disclosing  the 
real  basis  of  their  hostility.  .  .  .  The  Ameri- 
can people  who  love  the  trotting  horse  will  not  con- 
tinue to  see  him  cruelly  tested  merely  to  put  money 
in  the  pockets  of  a  few  unprincipled  speculators." 
There  is  some  sense  in  this,  but  Mr.  Wallace  prob- 
ably would  now  like  to  have  the  article  expunged. 
He  has  always  been  noted  for  doubling  on  himself. 
Here  is  another  extract  from  his  columns,  which  I 
commend  to  him  in  his  present  hour  of  doubt  and 
trouble:  "When  a  writer  can  *  criticise '  a  contem- 
porary only  by  abusing  him,  his  Billingsgate  carries 
with  it  the  admission  that  the  other  party's  arguments 
are  unanswerable."  As  Mr.  Wallace  has  visited 
some  of  his  Billingsgate  upon  me,  it  is  evident,  to 
use  his  own  words,  that  he  has  found  my  "  arguments 
unanswerable." 

In  my  letter  of  March  19  I  offered  to  trot  Belle 
Hamlin  against  Harry  Wilkes,  July  4;  against 
Oliver  K.  the  first  week  in  August,  and  against 
Prince  Wilkes  the  first  week  in  September,  each 
race  to  be  mile  heats  for  $1000  a  side,  and  $1500 
added  by  Buffalo  Park.  I  made  this  offer  in  answer 
to  reflections  cast  upon  the  track  performances  of 
Belle  Hamlin  by  Mr.  Simmons,  the  special  advocate 
of  the  George  Wilkes  family.  I  selected  the  three 


HAMLIN   AND   SPEED   DEVELOPMENT 

fastest  representatives  of  the  Wilkes  tribe  and  offered 
to  try  to  defeat  them  in  turn  with  one  representative 
of  the  Almont  family.  As  Prince  Wilkes  had  re- 
peatedly started  last  summer  for  purses  of  $1000, 
and,  as  Harry  Wilkes  had  done  battle  for  $1500 
or  less,  I  thought  that  I  was  liberal  in  making  for 
each  a  stake,  including  added  money,  of  $3500.  And, 
if  Mr.  Singerly  and  the  Sire  Bros,  think  so  poorly 
of  Belle  Hamlin  as  they  pretend,  it  seems  strange 
that  they  did  not  snap  up  my  challenge  without  seek- 
ing to  evade  it  by  making  counter  propositions.  Mr. 
Singerly  wants  me  to  come  to  Philadelphia  and  trot, 
and  the  Sire  Brothers  object  to  putting  their  noses 
inside  of  Buffalo.  Before  July  4  Buffalo  Park  will 
have  passed  into  the  hands  of  the  International  Fair 
Association,  and  this  organization  will  see  to  it  that 
both  parties  to  any  contest  over  its  track  have  fair 
play.  Judges  will  be  placed  in  the  stand  against 
whom  no  honest  objection  can  be  lodged.  Absorbed 
with  business  as  I  am,  I  cannot  conveniently  spend 
much  time  from  home,  and  I  am  not  seeking  to  take 
advantage  of  any  one  trotting  against  Belle  Hamlin. 
The  Buffalo  track  will  be  one  of  the  safest  in  the 
country  this  summer,  and  I  cherish  an  ambition  to 
have  Belle  Hamlin  lower  her  record  on  it.  Heat 
races  will  settle  the  speed  supremacy  issue  more  sat- 
isfactorily than  three-in-five  contests,  and  there  will 
be  less  risk  of  tearing  the  horses  to  pieces.  Belle 
Hamlin  demonstrated  at  Cleveland  in  July,  1886, 
when  she  won  a  five-heat  race  from  a  field  of  six, 
including  Spofford  and  Manzanita,  trotting  the  fifth 
heat  in  2.i8J,  after  scoring  twenty-seven  times,  that 
she  is  not  much  of  a  duffer.  I  repeat  what  I  have 
said  before,  that  it  is  the  pace  which  kills  with  her 
as  with  other  fast  performers.  Harry  Wilkes  dis- 

135 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

covered  this  in  his  race  with  Patron  at  Cleveland 
last  July.  After  he  had  gone  to  the  half-mile  pole 
in  i. 06  in  the  second  heat  his  head  began  to  swim, 
and  he  had  no  stomach  for  a  third  heat.  All  of  us 
are  talking  about  lowering  our  records,  and  the 
way  to  do  it  is  on  a  fast  track  in  races  of  heats,  two 
in  three.  Maud  S.  can  trot  all  day  heats  in  2.20,  but 
one  heat  under  2.10  pumps  her.  The  thoroughbred 
is  the  highest  type  of  equine  courage,  and  the  jockey 
clubs  no  longer  require  him  to  run  heat  races.  Ten 
Broeck  cut  down  the  mile  record  to  1.39!  by  running 
a  single  dash.  Why,  then,  should  we  continue  to 
punish  the  fast  trotter  by  compelling  him  to  fight 
through  heat  races  of  three  in  five?  I  have  not 
shown  the  least  inclination  to  waver  from  the  chal- 
lenge of  March  19.  Belle  Hamlin  and  money  will 
be  ready.  The  daughter  of  Almont  Jr.  is  willing 
to  try  to  beat  the  best  of  her  day. 

C  J.  HAMLIN. 

In  one  of  his  letters  to  me,  Mr.  Hamlin  stated 
that  Jerome  Eddy  had  been  offered  for  from  $16,000 
to  $18,000,  and  this  brought  me  a  communication 
from  Owosso,  Michigan,  signed  Dewey  and  Stewart: 

"  Presuming  that  you  and  the  public  desire  to 
know  the  correct  price  paid  for  Jerome  Eddy,  we 
say  that  Henry  C.  Jewett  &  Co.  paid  us  for  him 
$25,000,  which  is  a  much  larger  sum  than  has  ever 
been  paid  in  this  State  for  a  single  horse,  and  we 
think  him  the  cheapest  horse  sold  in  a  long  time. 
We  very  much  doubt  if  double  the  money  can  buy 
him  to-day.  We  regret  exceedingly  his  retirement 
from  the  turf,  and  would  gladly  give  Messrs.  Jewett 
$1000  to  place  him  back  in  Peter  V.  Johnson's  hands 

136 


HAMLIN   AND   SPEED   DEVELOPMENT 

for  turf  purposes.  Our  purchase  of  Louis  Napoleon 
and  Fanny  Mapes  has  proven  profitable,  and  the 
nick  a  happy  one  for  us.  We  presume  no  greater 
ridicule  was  ever  heaped  on  anyone  than  was  on  us 
when  we  returned  from  Orange  County,  N.  Y.,  in 
August,  1873,  with  Fanny  Mapes,  and  stated  that 
we  paid  $600  for  her." 

Fanny  Mapes,  bay  mare,  15.1  hands,  "  got  by 
Alexander's  Abdallah,  known  as  Edsall's  Hambleto- 
nian,"  appeared  in  the  first  catalogue  (1870)  of 
Stony  Ford,  and  Mr.  Backman  more  than  once  said 
to  me  that  he  parted  with  her  because  she  was  not 
up  to  his  standard  of  merit.  In  other  hands  Fanny 
Mapes  was  quite  a  fountain  of  speed.  Seven  of  her 
sons  are  sires  of  speed.  Louis  Napoleon  by  Volun- 
teer, out  of  Hattie  Wood  by  Sayres'  Harry  Clay,  she 
out  of  Grandmother  by  Terror,  was  also  a  member 
of  Stony  Ford  stud,  but  Mr.  Backman  did  not  hesi- 
tate to  say  that  he  lacked  common  sense  and  sold 
him  cheaply  on  this  account.  Bred  to  Fanny  Mapes, 
he  produced  Jerome  Eddy,  a  sire  of  fast  and  resolute 
trotters  and  pacers.  Mr.  Backman  sometimes  al- 
lowed prejudice  to  warp  his  judgment. 

Mr.  Hamlin  continued  to  stir  up  people  by  caus- 
tic remarks,  and  I  give  a  sample  reply,  a  letter  sent 
to  me  February  5,  1889,  from  Philadelphia: 

"  Mr.  Hamlin  has  dreamed  too  long  and  has  not 
been  awake  long  enough  to  know  that  the  intelligence 
of  the  following  gentlemen  who  trot  their  fast  horses 
in  races  has  never  been  doubted,  and  they  do  not 

137 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

reside  in  Philadelphia,  either:  Mr.  Gordon,  of 
Cleveland,  O.,  owner  of  Guy  (2.12)  and  Clingstone 
(2.14)  ;  Mr.  Emery  of  Cleveland,  owner  of  Patron 
(2.14^);  Mr.  J.  S.  Clarke  of  New  Brunswick, 
N.  J.,  owner  of  Favonia  (2.15)  ;  Messrs.  Sire 
Bros.,  owner  of  Harry  Wilkes  (2.13^)  and  Rosaline 
Wilkes  (2.14^),  any  of  which  horses  can  beat  Belle 
Hamlin.  After  Mr.  Hamlin's  mare  could  no  longer 
stay  in  a  3  in  5  race  he  came  out  with  a  challenge 
for  a  2  in  3  race  to  suit  her,  and  at  Buffalo  on  August 
10,  1888,  he  gave  a  special  purse  of  $3000  for  her 
benefit.  Mr.  W.  J.  Gordon  entered  Clingstone,  who 
beat  her  easily  on  her  own  track,  in  2.i8f,  2.17^, 
having  dropped  the  first  heat  to  the  mare  in  2.17!, 
which  was  half  a  second  slower  than  the  third  heat. 
Since  that  easy  race  for  Clingstone,  Mr.  Hamlin  has 
dropped  to  mile  and  half-mile  heats,  and  if  he  keeps 
on  he  will  soon  make  a  quarter  mare  of  poor  Belle. 
"  Mr.  Hamlin  fails  to  say  why  the  horses  he  has 
named  as  showing  fast  miles  did  not  compete  in 
races  and  split  heats,  etc.  There  was  no  class  on 
the  big  circuit  for  Maud  S.,  Jay-eye-see,  and  St. 
Julien.  They  trotted  only  when  a  purse  was  given 
them  to  go  against  time.  Guy  trotted  in  class  races 
and  specials.  Maxey  Cobb  went  single  miles  to 
lower  the  stallion  record  for  the  purpose  of  making 
him  more  valuable  in  the  stud.  Harry  Wilkes  was, 
until  he  went  lame,  in  the  free-for-all.  Rarus  was 
retired  owing  to  Mr.  Bonner  not  being  willing  to 
trot  his  horses  publicly.  Neither  Prince  Wilkes  nor 
Rosaline  Wilkes  stopped  in  the  race  at  Buffalo, 
which  Mr.  Hamlin  speaks  of.  Mr.  H.  fails  to  state 
in  his  article  how  he  deliberately  stood  in  the  judges' 
stand  and  permitted  the  driver  of  Guy  to  score  the 
other  two  horses  for  three-quarters  of  an  hour  amid 

138 


HAMLIN   AND   SPEED   DEVELOPMENT 

howls  and  hisses  from  the  grand  stand,  while  Guy 
did  no  fast  scoring,  but  merely  ambled;  and  how 
the  said  Hamlin  finally  had  the  race  postponed  till 
the  next  day  for  the  benefit  of  Guy. 

"  Belle  Hamlin  is  still  eligible  to  the  free-for-all 
class,  and  Mr.  Hamlin  can  have  a  chance  at  Prince 
Wilkes  or  any  of  them  that  may  happen  to  be  in  that 
class  during  the  coming  summer.  But  he  always 
seems  to  crawl  under  the  fence,  and  make  some  prop- 
osition out  of  the  regular  and  customary  ways  of  trot- 
ting races,  in  order  to  try  and  shield  poor  Belle 
Hamlin. 

"  GEORGE  A.  SINGERLY." 

When  the  attention  of  Mr.  Hamlin  was  drawn 
to  this  letter,  he  wrote  me : 

"  It  is  unfair  in  Mr.  Singerly  to  criticise  me  for  al- 
lowing the  prolonged  scoring  in  the  Guy- Prince  Wilkes 
race  at  Buffalo,  when  he  well  knows  it  was  a  special 
race,  made  for  the  three  horses.  The  same  had  just 
trotted  in  Detroit,  and  Mr.  Singerly  knew  Guy's 
peculiarities.  You  are  perfectly  familiar  with  all 
the  points.  You  know  Belle  won  all  of  her  Circuit 
races  and  trotted  a  third  heat  several  times  in  about 
2.16.  She  went  wrong  in  a  race  with  Clingstone,  and 
I  let  her  start  only  to  help  the  Association,  and  told 
everybody  that  asked  me  before  they  started  that  she 
was  off.  You  scored  Singerly  so  hard  last  week  it 
cut  into  his  inter-lining.  I  am  overwhelmed  just 
now  with  pressure  of  business,  and  have  written  this 
letter  in  an  awful  hurry,  but  I  know  there  is  but 
one  Busbey,  and  you  can  reply  ably  to  Singerly  with- 
out more  from  me.  I  see  Wallace  is  after  me  again, 
lying  as  usual." 

139 


RECOLLECTIONS   OF   MEN  AND    HORSES 

The  outgrowth  of  the  rather  bitter  controversy 
between  Mr.  Hamlin  and  Mr.  Singerly  was  a  meet- 
ing between  Belle  Hamlin  and  Prince  Wilkes  at 
Lexington,  Ky.  At  the  Phoenix  Hotel  I  had  a  room 
that  communicated  with  that  of  Mr.  Hamlin,  and 
views  were  frequently  exchanged  as  to  the  probable 
result  of  the  contest.  The  night  before  the  race  the 
lobby  of  the  Phoenix  was  crowded  with  a  speculative 
throng,  and  pools  were  being  sold  on  the  race.  Prince 
Wilkes  was  the  favorite,  and  this  nettled  Mr.  Ham- 
lin. He  had  on  a  silk  skull  cap  and  slippers,  and 
thus  attired  he  stepped  into  the  crowded  lobby  and 
backed  his  mare  to  the  tune  of  thousands.  It  was  a 
thrilling  occasion,  and  the  sum  wagered  by  Mr. 
Hamlin  was  exaggerated.  Prince  Wilkes  defeated 
Belle  Hamlin,  and  Mr.  Hamlin  never  got  over  the 
impression  that  his  driver  was  not  true  to  him.  Belle 
Hamlin  entered  breeding  ranks,  but  thus  far  has 
not  earned  distinction  in  that  line.  The  question  is, 
was  her  vitality  used  up  on  the  trotting  track? 

A  fortunate  purchase  made  by  Mr.  Hamlin  was 
Chimes,  brown  horse  foaled  April  4,  1884,  by  Elec- 
tioneer, dam  Beautiful  Bells,  second  dam  Minne- 
haha.  As  Electioneer  was  out  of  Green  Mountain 
Maid,  he  had  three  great  brood  mares  close  up  in 
his  pedigree.  In  his  announcement  of  1891  Mr. 
Hamlin  called  attention  to  the  fact  that  three  days 
before  Chimes  was  14  months  old  Charles  Marvin 
drove  him  a  quarter  in  35  seconds.  As  a  two-year- 
old  he  won  a  stake  in  2.33^,  and  as  a  three-year-old 

140 


HAMLIN   AND   SPEED   DEVELOPMENT 

won  a  stake  in  2.30!.  As  a  three-year-old  Chimes 
was  troubled  with  a  quarter  crack,  which  knocked 
the  poetry  out  of  his  action,  and  some  of  the  critics 
called  him  the  lobster  of  the  Beautiful  Bells  family. 
Although  Chimes  never  crossed  the  2.30  line,  he 
proved  his  quality  by  transmitting  speed.  As  a  sire 
he  holds  higher  rank  than  any  other  son  of  Beautiful 
Bells.  The  Abbot,  2.03^,  was  from  his  loins. 

It  was  under  date  of  April  29,  1891,  that  Mr. 
Hamlin  wrote  me: 

"  I  have  withdrawn  Mambrino  King  from  public 
service.  For  the  remainder  of  his  life  he  will  be  used 
as  a  private  stallion." 

The  blood  of  Chimes  nicked  well  with  that  of 
Mambrino  King.  The  Abbot,  for  instance,  is  by 
Chimes,  out  of  Nettie  King  by  Mambrino  King. 

Sunol,  after  passing  from  Leland  Stanford  to 
Robert  Bonner,  was  the  sensation  of  the  hour,  and 
Mr.  Hamlin  was  exceedingly  anxious  to  secure  her 
for  Buffalo  Park,  knowing  that  she  would  attract  a 
big  gate.  He  conceived  that  one  way  to  do  this 
was  to  circulate  rumors  of  his  eagerness  to  match 
Belle  Hamlin  against  her.  As  Belle  Hamlin  was  not 
in  Sunol's  class,  the  match-making  talk  was  irri- 
tating to  Mr.  Bonner  and  Senator  Stanford.  I  knew 
one  way  to  silence  the  talk,  and  that  was  to  offer  to 
trot  Sunol  against  Belle  Hamlin  for  a  large  sum  of 
money,  winner  to  take  all.  It  was  not  difficult  to 
find  the  money  for  such  a  proposition,  and,  as  Sena- 

141 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

tor  Stanford  had  full  control  of  the  racing  qualities 
of  Sunol,  I  published  a  challenge,  after  consultation, 
July  1 8,  1890,  that  Sunol  would  trot  Belle  Hamlin 
for  $10,000  a  side,  and  the  whole  of  the  gate  re- 
ceipts. The  personal  note  in  reply  was  dated  Buf- 
falo, July  21,  1890: 

"My  DEAR  MR.  BUSBEY:  Herewith  I  mail  you 
my  answer  to  the  Sunol  challenge,  which  speaks  for 
itself.  You  know  I  don't  want,  say  forty  or  fifty 
years  hence,  when  I  am  laid  away,  to  have  some 
horseman  come  along  and  give  my  tombstone  a  kick 
and  say,  '  Here  lies  an  old  fool.'  The  article  sent 
me,  taken  from  an  Indiana  paper,  I  had  never  seen 
or  heard  of;  in  fact  I  did  not  know  there  was  such 
a  paper.  I  have  never  claimed  I  could  beat  Sunol 
with  Belle  Hamlin,  but,  on  the  contrary,  have  told 
all  my  friends  I  expected  she  would  beat  Belle,  which 
I  think,  if  it  were  not  too  expensive,  I  could  well 
stand,  as  you  know  the  large  interests  I  have  in  her 
kindred  blood,  and  the  faster  mile  she  makes  the 
better  it  will  suit. 

"  Yours  very  truly, 

"  C.  J.  HAMLIN." 

The  letter,  which  was  sent  for  publication,  also 
bore  the  date  of  July  21,  and  was  as  follows: 

"  In  reply  to  the  challenge  which  appeared  in 
your  last  issue,  offering  to  match  Sunol  against  Belle 
Hamlin  for  $10,000  a  side,  $5000  forfeit,  the  win- 
ner to  take  the  entire  stake  and  gate  receipts,  I  re- 
spectfully decline  to  accept,  as,  in  my  judgment,  the 
chances  are  in  favor  of  Sunol's  beating  Belle  Ham- 

142 


HAMLIN   AND    SPEED   DEVELOPMENT 

lin,  besides  I  would  not  put  up  a  forfeit  of  $5000 
and  run  the  risk  of  the  mare  going  wrong.  I  will, 
however,  match  Belle  Hamlin  against  Sunol  for 
$5000  a  side,  $2500  forfeit,  over  any  track  mutu- 
ally agreed  upon,  the  winner  to  take  sixty  per  cent, 
of  the  earnings  and  the  loser  forty  per  cent. 

"  Yours  truly, 

"  C.  J.  HAMLIN." 

As  forty  per  cent,  of  the  gate  would  secure  the 
loser  against  financial  loss,  the  proposition  was  not 
entertained. 

Mr.  Hamlin  was  a  practical  horseman,  and  he 
could  train  and  drive,  as  well  as  breed,  a  fast  trotter. 
It  was  in  November,  1887,  tnat  ne  drove  the  two 
mares,  Belle  Hamlin  and  Justina  to  a  double-harness 
record  to  wagon  at  Buffalo  of  2.18.  He  early 
learned  the  truth  that  two  horses  well  mated  can 
trot  faster  double  than  single,  because  they  encourage 
each  other  and  divide  the  weight  handicap,  and  so 
he  buckled  the  draw  strap  on  Belle  Hamlin's  side 
shorter  than  on  Justina's  side.  This  made  the  faster 
mare,  Belle  Hamlin,  take  the  greater  part  of  the 
load.  The  handicap  was  so  perfect  that  the  two 
trotted  as  one  horse.  At  the  three-quarter  pole  he 
tapped  Justina  on  the  back  with  the  whip,  which 
caused  her  to  move  up  and  relieve  for  a  moment  Belle 
Hamlin  of  the  load.  Belle  quickly  rallied  under  this 
short  respite,  and  then  again  stretched  the  traces,  and 
the  mile  was  finished  quite  resolutely.  It  was  a  per- 
formance which  attracted  wide  attention,  and  it  was 

143 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF    MEN   AND    HORSES 

highly  gratifying  to  Mr.  Hamlin,  because  he  was  the 
breeder,  as  well  as  owner,  of  both  mares.  In  the 
autumn  of  1890  Belle  Hamlin  and  Justina  gradually 
reduced  their  double-harness  record,  the  progressive 
steps  being  2.15!,  2.15,  2.13^,  and  2.13.  In  1892 
Belle  Hamlin  was  hooked  double  with  Honest 
George,  and  established  the  record  at  2.12^. 

The  idea  of  driving  three  horses  abreast  occurred 
to  Mr.  Hamlin,  after  a  close  study  of  the  efforts 
of  three  horses  hitched  this  way  to  the  wagons  of 
brewers  in  the  streets  of  Buffalo.  It  was  at  Cleve- 
land, July  31,  1891,  that  the  successful  trial  was 
made  with  Belle  Hamlin,  Justina,  and  Globe,  all 
bred  at  Village  Farm  and  all  by  Almont  Jr.  I  re- 
produce the  story  that  I  wrote  at  the  time : 

"  Belle  Hamlin,  Globe,  and  Justina  were  hooked 
abreast  to  wagon,  and  their  appearance  on  the  track 
was  the  signal  for  applause.  In  the  morning  John 
Splan  predicted  that  the  trio  would  not  beat  2.30. 
I  looked  the  rig  over  and  told  Mr.  Hamlin  if  he 
went  a  mile  in  2.18  he  would  be  lucky.  I  remem- 
bered how  difficult  it  was  to  get  two  horses  to  go 
together,  and  thought  that  the  third  horse  would 
prove  a  disturbing  element.  In  a  pair  you  must 
have  similarity  of  gait  and  temperament,  and  you 
have  to  hunt  long  and  far  to  find  these  qualities. 
It  necessarily  follows  that  a  harmonious  trio  is  much 
more  difficult  to  discover.  Globe,  being  thought  the 
slowest  horse,  was  put  between  the  shafts.  Justina 
was  hooked^  so  as  to  bring  her  next  to  the  rail,  and 
Belle  Hamlin,  being  the  fastest,  was  put  on  the  out- 

144 


HAMLIN   AND    SPEED   DEVELOPMENT 

side,  as  she  would  have  the  farther  distance  to  travel. 
Should  Globe  falter,  it  was  reasoned  by  the  astute 
owner  of  Village  Farm,  the  two  mares  would  relieve 
him  entirely  of  weight  and  carry  him  along.  Geers 
scored  once  and  then  came  down  nodding  for  the 
word.  Without  a  waver  or  bobble,  the  three  trot- 
ters rounded  the  turn  and  were  at  the  quarter  in  34 
seconds.  The  second  quarter  was  trotted  in  33!  sec- 
onds, which  made  the  half  in  1.07! .  The  same  rate  of 
speed  was  maintained  to  the  three-quarter  pole,  which 
made  the  time  1.41,  and  then  the  three  were  squared 
away  for  the  finish.  Geers  brought  them  down  the 
home  stretch  with  resolute  hands,  and  the  perfect 
stride  aroused  enthusiasm.  Under  the  wire  they 
swept  without  skip  or  falter  and  hundreds  of  watches 
stopped  and  the  great  throng  broke  into  cheers.  The 
time  was  2.14,  a  remarkable  performance.  The 
three  horses  were  the  offspring  of  the  same  stallion, 
were  bred  and  reared  on  the  same  farm,  and  were 
developed  and  owned  by  the  same  man.  When  shall 
we  again  see  this  combination  of  circumstances 
crowned  with  success?  Mr.  Hamlin  stood  on  the 
stretch,  watch  in  hand,  at  the  finish,  and  the  cheers 
for  him  were  so  lusty  that  he  was  compelled  to 
mount  the  judges1  stand  and  bow  his  acknowledg- 
ment." 

Several  attempts  were  made  after  this  to  reduce 
the  triple  harness  record,  but  all  failed.  I  should 
like  to  be  present  when  the  record  is  thrown  into 
shadow,  but  probably  will  then  be  asleep  under  the 
daisies. 

C.  J.  Hamlin  was  an  aggressive  man  with  the 
creative  faculty  strongly  developed,  and,  as  a 

145 


RECOLLECTIONS   OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

breeder,  exhibitor,  and  campaigner  of  horses,  he 
made  an  impression  that  only  cycles  of  time  will 
erase.  For  years  my  relations  with  him  were  inti- 
mate, and  I  had  an  excellent  opportunity  to  measure 
the  keenness  of  his  intellect  and  his  resolute  pur- 
pose. The  Roman  world  had  its  Augustan  age,  in 
which  a  city  of  bricks  was  transformed  into  a  city 
of  marble,  and  which  was  so  deeply  impressed  by 
the  genius  of  writers  of  the  stamp  of  Horace  and 
Virgil,  that  the  enlightened  world  feels  the  force  of 
the  movement  centuries  after  the  fall  of  the  powerful 
Empire.  The  period  of  trotting  evolution  shaped 
by  determined  and  creative  intellects  like  those  of 
Bonner,  Hamlin,  Tracy,  Vanderbilt,  Backman,  Alex- 
ander, Thorne,  Veech,  McFerran,  and  Stanford, 
may  in  one  sense  be  compared  to  the  Augustan  age 
of  literature  and  art,  because  the  historian  cannot 
forget  it  even  if  he  wished  to  do  so,  and  the  passing 
of  years  will  add  to,  not  dim,  its  radiance.  I 
am  glad  that  I  was  able  to  play  an  humble  part  in 
this  momentous  era  of  development. 

For  more  than  half  a  century  the  brain  of  C.  J. 
Hamlin  was  over-stimulated.  The  absence  of  rest 
drained  it  of  that  vitality  which  he  deemed  so  essen- 
tial to  the  perpetuation,  to  the  continuity  of  life,  and 
it  is  not  surprising  that  adolescent  dreams  should  have 
marked  his  closing  years.  Herbert  Spencer  tells  us 
that,  if  some  function  is  habitually  performed  in 
excess  of  the  requirement,  there  is  derangement  in 
the  balance  of  the  functions  which  leads  to  decay. 

146 


HAMLIN   AND   SPEED   DEVELOPMENT 

"  In  the  normal  order  pleasures,  great  and  small, 
are  stimulants  to  the  processes  by  which  life  is  main- 
tained." When  a  man  of  tireless  ambition  and  crea- 
tive power  gives  free  rein  to  desire,  making  incessant 
use  of  his  power,  suddenly  steps  from  the  tumultuous 
zone  of  activity  into  the  realm  of  aimless  passivity, 
it  is  fitting  that  memory  should  survive.  In  recalling 
incidents  of  the  long  ago,  in  living  over  again  the 
stirring  scenes  of  the  past,  he  obtains  that  enjoyment 
which  restores  functional  balance  and  smooths  the 
journey  down  the  slope  to  the  sleep  which  is  absolute, 
the  end  of  human  aspiration  and  endeavor,  which 
sooner  or  later  enfolds  all  mortality.  Mr.  Hamlin 
died  at  his  home  in  Buffalo  in  February,  1905. 


147 


CHAPTER   XIV 
HENRY  c.  M'DOWELL  AND  ASHLAND 

DURING  the  latter  half  of  the  Civil  War,  I  was  in 
Louisville,  and,  under  direction  of  George  D.  Pren- 
tice, I  made  almost  daily  the  rounds  of  military  pris- 
ons in  which  women,  as  well  as  men,  were  confined, 
and  heard  many  a  story  of  distress.  At  the  Gait 
House  I  interviewed  officers  high  in  command,  on 
the  way  to  or  from  the  front,  and,  with  dispatches 
from  the  front  always  on  my  desk,  I  was  in  close 
touch  with  the  Army  and  was  able  to  write,  when 
occasion  demanded,  intelligently  of  the  situation. 
Louisville  was  something  of  a  cauldron  in  those  days, 
and  two  of  my  closest  friends  were  Lieutenant  Col- 
onel J.  Rowan  Boone,  a  descendant  of  Daniel  Boone, 
and  Major  Henry  C.  McDowell,  whose  wife  was 
a  granddaughter  of  Henry  Clay.  Colonel  Boone 
did  not  long  survive  the  war,  but  Major  McDowell, 
after  laying  aside  the  sword,  engaged  in  the  breed- 
ing of  horses,  and  our  relations  were  of  the  closest 
kind.  I  saw  him  tested  in  many  ways,  and  he  was 
always  true  to  the  qualities  which  add  to  the  stature 
of  manhood.  His  first  breeding  venture  was  Wood- 
lake,  a  beautiful  farm  of  585  acres,  seven  miles  from 
Frankfort,  abundantly  supplied  with  water  and  with 
pastures  shaded  by  ash,  walnut,  sugar,  oak,  and  burr 

148 


HENRY  c.  MCDOWELL  AND  ASHLAND 

oak.  The  only  time  that  Chas.  Backman  joined 
one  of  the  visiting  parties  to  Kentucky  he  saw  at 
Woodlake  a  burr  oak  of  gigantic  proportions — the 
largest  tree  upon  which  his  eyes  had  ever  rested.  It 
was  quite  a  lively  party,  and,  after  dinner  in  the 
Capitol  Hotel  at  Frankfort,  some  of  the  young 
members  obtained  access  to  a  suite  of  rooms  reserved 
for  the  Court  of  Appeals  and  donned  the  robes  of 
office  and  passed  severe  sentences  on  their  elders 
who  were  brought  before  them  for  trial.  Major  Mc- 
Dowell had  dined  in  the  private  car  with  us  and 
had  accompanied  us  to  the  hotel,  and  he  mildly  pro- 
tested against  the  invasion  of  the  judicial  suite.  For 
making  this  protest,  he  was  sentenced  to  provide  a 
breakfast  for  the  entire  party.  We  were  up  early 
and  the  seven-mile  drive  to  Woodlake  sharpened 
appetites.  We  found  Major  McDowell  in  bed,  but 
he  hastily  dressed  himself,  and  at  ten  o'clock  the 
hungry  delegation  sat  down  to  a  breakfast  which 
none  of  the  survivors  of  the  feast  have  ever  forgot- 
ten. The  breakfast  wines  were  a  revelation  to  some 
of  the  epicurean  palates.  Major  McDowell  took 
pardonable  pride  in  the  quality  of  his  vintages. 
Woodlake  was  known  as  a  breeding  farm  before  it 
passed  into  the  possession  of  Major  McDowell.  It 
was  the  home  of  the  famous  thoroughbreds,  Grey 
Eagle  and  Rudolph,  prior  to  the  advent  of  the  trot- 
ters. My  last  visit  to  Woodlake  was  in  the  latter 
part  of  March,  1882,  and  when  I  stepped  from  the 
carriage  with  Mr.  Robert  Bonner,  and  we  looked  out 

149 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF    MEN   AND    HORSES 

upon  the  broad  acres,  the  words  of  the  poet  rang 
in  our  ears: 

"  *  I'll  promise  my  blossoms,'  the  Crocus  said, 
*  When  I  hear  the  blue  birds  sing.' 
*And  straight  thereafter,'  Narcissus   cried, 
'My  silver  and  gold  I'll  bring.' 
*And  they  are  dulled,'  another  spoke, 
'The  Hyacinth  bells  shall  ring.' 

And  the  Violet  only  murmured,  '  I  am  here,' 

And  sweet  grew  the  air  of  Spring. 

Then  'Ha!    Ha!    Ha!'  a  chorus  came 

Of   laughter    soft    and   low 

From  the  millions  of  flowers  under  the  ground — 

Yes — millions — beginning  to  grow." 

After  luncheon  the  carriage  was  ordered  for  the 
return  drive  to  Lexington,  and  Mr.  Bonner  had  his 
foot  on  the  step,  when  he  abruptly  turned  to  Mc- 
Dowell, and  said :  "  What  is  your  price  on  the  three 
fillies  that  you  last  showed  us?  "  "  Seven  hundred 
and  fifty,  one  thousand,  and  fifteen  hundred  dollars," 
was  the  quick  reply. 

Without  a  moment's  hesitation  Mr.  Bonner  said: 
"  I  will  take  them  and  send  you  check  as  soon  as  I 
reach  New  York."  The  door  closed  as  the  last 
word  was  spoken,  and  we  were  off.  It  was  what  you 
might  call  a  quick  sale.  Under  date  of  May  5, 
1882,  Major  McDowell  wrote  me: 

"  I  have  concluded  the  purchase  of  Ashland  and 
may  have  to  call  on  you  to  advertise  Woodlake  for 
sale.  I  do  not  get  possession  of  Ashland  until  January, 

150 


HENRY  C.  M  DOWELL 


HENRY  c.  MCDOWELL  AND  ASHLAND 

but,  when  I  do  get  there,  you  will  see  what  energy 
and  taste  will  do  for  the  improvement  of  the  place. 
I  want  not  only  to  have  the  farm,  the  house  and 
the  stables  beautifully  kept,  but  I  want  to  breed  the 
best  trotters  in  the  world — a  pretty  hard  contract, 
but  I  shall  make  an  effort  to  carry  it  out ;  and  I  hope 
at  least  to  make  it  sufficiently  attractive  to  keep  my 
friends,  when  they  call,  longer  than  ten  minutes." 

In  another  letter  from  Woodlake  Major  Mc- 
Dowell spoke  hopefully  of  the  future  of  King  Rene, 
and  added: 

"  I  wish  the  next  time  you  come  to  Kentucky  you 
would  leave  your  watch  in  your  pocket.  I  should 
much  have  enjoyed  a  longer  chat  with  you  gentlemen. 
I  might  have  induced  you  to  spend  the  night  with 
me  when  I  could  have  uncorked  the  bottles  of  my 
horse  talk,  as  well  as  some  other  bottles.  If  city 
people  could  appreciate  what  a  God-send  a  visit  was 
they  might  move  more  leisurely." 

When  McDowell  was  in  full  possession  of  Ash- 
land he  greatly  improved  the  place,  and  did  not  have 
to  complain  of  his  inability  to  keep  the  New  York 
delegation  to  dinner.  In  fact,  his  dinners  in  the 
month  of  October  were  elaborate  affairs,  and  those 
who  looked  up  at  the  portrait  of  Henry  Clay  caught 
the  fever  of  eloquence  arid  rounded  out  so  many  pe- 
riods, that  midnight  still  found  them  at  the  social 
board.  The  energy,  the  vivacity  of  youth,  comes 
back  to  me  when  I  recall  those  occasions,  and  for 
the  moment  forget  that  many  of  the  happy  group 
sleep  where  neither  winter's  roar  nor  summer's  thun- 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

der-bolt  disturbs  repose.  The  first  trotter  to  bring 
Major  McDowell  into  national  prominence  was 
Trinket,  bay  mare  foaled  in  1875,  ^re<^  by  R«  S. 
Veech,  and  by  Princeps  (son  of  Woodford  Mam- 
brino),  dam  Ouida  by  Rysdyk's  Hambletonian ;  sec- 
ond dam  Morning  Glory  by  imp.  Consternation. 
During  one  of  his  numerous  visits  to  Indian  Hill, 
McDowell  purchased  the  bay  filly  and  transferred 
her  to  Woodlake.  I  was  one  of  the  judges  at  Louis- 
ville July  10,  1879,  when  she  started  in  a  race  against 
Von  Arnim,  Effie  G.,  and  So  So,  and  scored  a  victory 
and  trotted  to  a  record  of  2.19!  in  the  fourth  heat. 
That  evening  we  dined  at  the  Club  house  of  the  Louis- 
ville Jockey  Club  with  Colonel  M.  Lewis  Clark,  the 
President,  and  enthusiasm  over  the  performance  of 
Trinket  was  pronounced.  Major  McDowell  was 
frequently  congratulated  on  being  the  possessor  of 
a  future  record-breaker,  and  his  eyes  were  aglow 
with  satisfaction.  Early  in  the  spring  of  1880  I 
began  to  agitate  for  a  race  between  Trinket,  then 
five  years  old,  and  Maud  S.,  six  years  old.  Mc- 
Dowell and  his  friends  felt  confident  that  the  daugh- 
ter of  Princeps  could  concede  to  the  daughter  of 
Harold  a  year  and  beat  her.  The  race  was  trotted 
at  Chicago  July  24,  1880,  and  I  was  named  as  one 
of  the  judges.  Trinket  was  outclassed,  and,  to  the 
bitter  disappointment  of  her  owner,  was  beaten  in 
straight  heats  in  2.19,  2.2iJ,  2.134.  In  the  third 
heat  distance  was  waived  and  Maud  S.  was  driven 
for  a  record.  The  friends  of  Mr.  W.  H.  Vanderbilt 

152 


HENRY  c.  MCDOWELL  AND  ASHLAND 

sent  to  that  gentleman  in  Europe  a  congratulatory 
dispatch,  and  I  was  asked  to  add  my  name  to  the 
telegram,  because  it  was  known  that  my  sympathies, 
previous  to  the  contest,  were  with  Trinket.  Mc- 
Dowell was  easily  elated  or  depressed,  and,  after  an 
hour  of  gloom,  hope  took  fresh  root.  Later  in  the 
season  he  sold  the  mare  to  John  W.  Shaw,  and  she 
was  campaigned  for  three  years,  beating  some  of 
the  best  horses  on  the  turf,  and  trotting  at  Fleetwood 
Park,  September  22,  1881,  to  a  record  of  2.14. 
Trinket  had  an  excess  of  action  which  kept  her 
from  mounting  to  the  throne  over  such  horses  as 
St.  Julien,  Jay-eye-see,  and  Maud  S.  As  a  brood 
mare  she  was  only  moderately  successful,  while  her 
sister  Toto,  three  years  younger,  was  an  absolute 
failure  as  a  trotter,  but  brilliant  as  a  producer  of 
speed.  She  ranks  high  among  the  great  brood  mares 
of  the  Year  Book.  The  breeder  is  often  confronted 
with  a  problem  like  that  presented  by  Trinket  and 
Toto.  One  sister  differs  from  another  sister,  owing 
to  environment,  nutrition,  and  opportunity.  One  of 
the  great  trotters  bred  by  Major  McDowell  was 
Phallas,  bay  horse  foaled  in  1877,  and  by  Dictator, 
dam  Betsy  Trotwood  by  Clark  Chief,  second  dam 
by  Ericsson,  and  third  dam  by  Sir  William.  He 
was  sold  to  Jerome  I.  Case,  in  whose  stable  he  de- 
veloped championship  form.  At  Chicago  July  14, 
1884,  he  trotted  to  a  record  of  2.13!,  which  gave 
him  the  place  of  honor  among  stallions.  In  the  stud 
Phallas  was  not  quite  equal  to  his  opportunity,  albeit 

153 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

his  blood  is  breeding  on,  and  I  attribute  his  partial 
failure  to  his  peculiar  action.  He  was  rough  gaited 
for  a  horse  of  so  much  speed.  Fugue,  bay  mare 
foaled  in  1880,  by  King  Rene,  dam  Fuga  by  George 
Wilkes,  second  dam  Betsy  Trotwood,  by  Clark 
Chief,  was  a  trotter  who  showed  early  speed  and  good 
racing  form  at  maturity,  and  Major  McDowell  de- 
rived much  satisfaction  from  the  fact  that  he  had 
bred  her.  As  a  two-year-old  she  beat  Wilkes  Boy 
and  Lizzie  Wilkes,  and  as  a  three-year-old  she  van- 
quished a  field  which  included  Elvira  and  Early 
Dawn.  She  retired  from  the  track  with  a  record  of 
2.19^.  Oratorio,  bay  horse  foaled  in  1892,  is  by 
Wilkes  Boy  out  of  Canzonet  by  Dictator,  and  she 
out  of  Fugue.  He  trotted  to  a  record  of  2.13  and 
is  producing  a  high  rate  of  speed,  especially  at  the 
pace.  The  question  is,  why  should  a  horse  so 
strongly  bred  in  trotting  lines  vary  form  and  action  ? 
King  Rene,  the  sire  of  Fugue,  was  long  a  source  of 
pride  to  Major  McDowell.  He  was  by  Belmont 
(son  of  Alexander's  Abdallah  and  Belle  by  Mam- 
brino  Chief)  out  of  Blandina,  the  producing  daugh- 
ter of  Mambrino  Chief,  and  had  commanding  form 
and  action.  He  was  a  show  horse,  and  won 
much  applause  in  live  stock  forums.  Blandina 
was  a  handsome  mare,  and  her  dam,  the  Burch 
mare,  dam  of  Rosalind,  2. 2 if,  was  a  noted  win- 
ner of  premiums  at  Blue  Grass  Fairs.  King  Rene 
inherited  beauty  and  transmitted  it.  One  of  his 
sons,  King  Rene  Jr.,  dam  Crepe  Lisse,  producing 

154 


HENRY  c.  MCDOWELL  AND  ASHLAND 

daughter  of  George  Wilkes,  was  a  famous  horse- 
show  winner  when  owned  by  Mr.  Alley  A.  Bonner, 
and  he  trotted  to  a  record  of  2.17.  King  Rene  sired 
speed  as  well  as  the  sires  and  dams  of  speed.  Dic- 
tator, the  renowned  brother  of  Dexter,  died  at  Ash- 
land May  25,  1893,  'm  tne  thirty-first  year  of  his  age, 
and  his  last  foal  was  a  bay  filly  out  of  Medium's 
Last  by  Happy  Medium.  It  was  this  combination 
of  blood  which  gave  us  Nancy  Hanks,  2.04.  A 
sample  brood  mare  at  Ashland  was  Ethelwyn  by  Har- 
old, dam  Kathleen  by  Pilot  Jr.,  second  dam  Little 
Miss,  thoroughbred  daughter  of  imp.  Sovereign,  and 
on  to  the  nineteenth  dam,  the  Layton  Barb  mare. 
She  was  bred  season  after  season  to  Dictator,  and  her 
first  foal  Orator  (1886)  trotted  to  a  record  of  2.24, 
and  is  a  sire  of  speed.  Impetuous  (1892)  sister 
of  Orator,  trotted  to  a  record  of  2.13,  and  Tintoret 
(1893),  another  sister,  trotted  to  a  record  of  2.24^. 
Extasy,  2.11^  at  the  trot,  and  2.ioi  at  the  pace; 
Ethel's  Pride,  2.o6f,  winner  of  the  1905  Transyl- 
vania; Immaculate,  2.28f,  and  Ecstatic,  2.oif  at 
the  pace,  are  out  of  Ethelwyn.  Major  McDowell 
was  a  strong  advocate  of  trotting  cross  on  top  of 
trotting  cross,  but  he  wanted  a  thoroughbred  founda- 
tion for  speed-sustaining  purposes.  The  early  theory 
of  evolving  the  trotter  from  the  runner  was  somewhat 
vague,  and  may  be  compared  to  Romaine's  opinion 
of  adaptation :  "  The  wing  of  the  bird  is  an  adap- 
tive structure  and  cannot  possibly  have  ever  appeared 
suddenly  as  a  merely  specific  character;  it  must  have 

155 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF    MEN   AND    HORSES 

been  slowly  elaborated  through  an  incalculable  num- 
ber of  successive  species,  as  these  branched  into  gen- 
era, families,  and  orders  of  the  existing  class."  The 
fast  trot  is  an  acquired  or  developed  character,  and 
experience  shows  that  use  through  successive  genera- 
tions has  confirmed  or  intensified  it  on  the  thorough- 
bred foundation.  Messenger  was  a  thoroughbred 
runner,  and  his  lineal  descendant,  Hambletonian, 
founded  an  ever-expanding  family  of  trotters.  In 
breeding  developed  speed  to  developed  speed,  fric- 
tion has  been  eliminated  from  the  trot  and  the  rate 
of  speed  increased  to  a  wonderful  degree. 

Major  McDowell  was  at  one  time  prominent  in 
the  councils  of  the  National  Association  of  Trotting 
Horse  Breeders.  The  discussion  over  taking  out 
a  certificate  of  membership  in  the  National  Trotting 
Association  for  the  government  of  races  created  so 
much  dissension  in  1878  that  McDowell  resigned  as 
President  of  the  Breeders'  Association,  Edwin  Thorne 
withdrew  from  the  office  of  Vice  President,  and 
David  Bonner  retired  from  the  Board  of  Censors. 
Then  McDowell  joined  A.  J.  Alexander,  R.  West, 
J.  C.  McFerran,  R.  S.  Veech,  and  L.  Brodhead  in 
the  publication  of  the  "  Breeders'  Trotting  Studbook." 
One  volume  was  issued,  and  then  the  work  was  aban- 
doned. In  the  latter  part  of  1883  I  advocated  the 
publication  of  a  trotting  studbook  by  the  National 
Trotting  Association.  In  the  petition,  addressed  to 
members  of  the  National  Trotting  Association,  these 
words  were  used : 

156 


HENRY  c.  MCDOWELL  AND  ASHLAND 

"  Your  Association  alone,  of  all  bodies  taking  in- 
terest in  such  matters,  has  power  to  punish  anyone 
in  fabricating  records  as  a  basis  of  registration  or 
otherwise  attempting  to  establish  fraudulent  pedi- 
grees; and  this  punishment  can  be  rendered  more 
effective  by  extending  it  to  the  animal,  as  in  cases 
of  fraud  on  the  turf.  That  the  benefit  of  such  power 
should  be  extended  to  the  honest  breeder  is  one  of 
the  strongest  reasons  for  the  request." 

When  the  petition  was  sent  to  me  for  suggestion, 
I  objected  to  the  phrase  "  fabricating  false  records," 
and,  under  date  of  January  13,  1884,  Major  Mc- 
Dowell replied: 

"  I  stand  corrected  on  the  *  fabrication  of  false,' 
and  the  worst  of  it  was  that  I  had  years  ago  seen 
quite  a  striking  criticism  of  the  same  expression. 
Strike  out  the  word  false  in  the  copy  sent." 

Soon  after  this  the  prospectus  of  The  Trotting 
Horse  Breeders'  Club  was  issued.  The  object  was  to 
compile  and  publish  a  trotting  horse  studbook  and 
to  clear  the  road  by  the  purchase  of  "  the  two  exist- 
ing studbooks."  "  It  is  expected  that  this  club  will 
be  admitted  as  a  member  of  the  National  Trotting 
Association,  and  that  as  such  it  will  have  access  to 
its  accurate  and  valuable  official  records  for  use  and 
publication  in  the  studbook,  and  what  is  of  even 
more  importance,  to  its  well-organized  and  able  tri- 
bunals for  a  hearing  and  decision  of  such  questions 
as  may  arise  between  the  breeder  and  the  compiler 

157 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

on  the  refusal  of  the  latter  to  record  a  pedigree  or 
acknowledge  a  record."  The  capital  stock  was  fixed 
at  $10,000,  "  to  be  increased  if  deemed  advisable," 
and  the  incorporators  were  Edwin  Thorne,  David 
Bonner,  Shepherd  F.  Knapp,  James  B.  Houston,  and 
Henry  C.  McDowell.  J.  H.  Wallace  stopped  blus- 
tering when  this  prospectus  was  issued,  and  appealed 
to  his  friends  to  protect  him  from  ruin.  He  prom- 
ised to  be  good,  and,  through  liberal  play  on  the 
chords  of  sympathy,  the  project  was  abandoned. 

I  have  numerous  letters  from  Major  McDowell, 
but  will  content  myself  by  making  quotations  from 
three  written  during  the  year  1886: 

January  2.  "I  only  consented  to  act  in  the  Na- 
tional Trotting  Association  until  I  could  get  a  suit- 
able representative  from  this  section.  Major  P.  P. 
Johnston  has  consented  to  relieve  me,  and  has  been 
appointed  in  my  place  on  the  Rule  Committee.  He 
is  a  first-rate  man,  made  a  good  legislator,  and  has 
plenty  of  grit.  I  shall  endeavor  to  secure  proxies 
from  Kentucky  and  Tennessee  for  him.  Bemis  has 
applied  for  all  the  proxies  out  here.  Major  Johnston 
knows  Bemis  and  Hall  as  well  as  I  do,  and  he  can  be 
relied  on  when  it  comes  to  a  fight  with  them." 

January  31.  "  I  am  glad  to  see  that  you  have 
taken  up  the  cudgels  so  strenuously  for  a  drive  in 
Central  Park.  That  it  should  be  granted  is  a  plain 
matter  of  right,  and  agitation  is  the  way  to  secure 
it.  That  so  influential  a  class  as  the  road  drivers 
of  New  York  City  should  be  deprived  of  this  equi- 
table privilege  is  hardly  conceivable." 

158 


HENRY  c.  MCDOWELL  AND  ASHLAND 

October  13.  "  The  Republican's  report  of  the  St. 
Louis  Fair  was  an  unadulterated  laudation  of  Caton's 
stock  to  which  I  have  not  the  slightest  objection,  but 
the  reporter  seems  to  lose  no  opportunity  to  hit  me 
a  rap.  I  think  you  were  one  of  the  judges  at  Lex- 
ington, and  as  the  competition  there  was  greater  than 
at  St.  Louis,  you  also  need  some  vindication.  It  is 
true  the  colt  was  off  at  St.  Louis,  but,  off  or  on,  he  is 
a  long  neck  ahead  of  the  best  Don  Cossack." 

You  who  have  seen  the  sun  streaming  across  the 
great  plain  and  up  the  rugged  mountain,  touching 
with  cheerfulness  canyon,  crag,  and  the  dark  green 
of  stunted  pine,  finally  shimmering  gold  on  the  lofty 
peak,  find  it  next  to  impossible  to  resist  the  melan- 
choly fever  when  the  light  begins  to  fade  and  the 
shadows  lengthen  and  deepen.  Henry  C.  McDowell 
occupied  an  elevated  position  in  the  ranks  of  human 
society,  and  for  years  he  walked  where  brightness 
ruled.  When  the  National  Crisis  came,  guided  by 
the  conservative  wisdom  of  his  elders,  thoroughly 
grounded  Kentuckians,  like  Governor  James  F.  Rob- 
inson, Dr.  Robert  J.  Breckinridge  and  Geo.  D.  Pren- 
tice, he  was  loyal  to  the  flag  of  the  Union,  and  later 
was  respected  for  this  act  by  those  who  wore  the 
Gray  with  honor.  Ashland,  even  during  the  life- 
time of  Henry  Clay,  never  saw  more  brilliant  men 
around  the  social  board,  and  I  fancy  that  the  spirit 
of  the  Great  Commoner  often  whispered  to  the  gen- 
tle breeze,  "  Well  done,  Philip  Sidney  of  Blue  Grass 
land!  When  you  shall  pass  as  I  have  passed,  your 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF   MEN  AND    HORSES 

memory    will    not    be    celebrated    with    tears,    but 
admiration !  " 

The  foundations  of  health  were  sapped  before  the 
harvest  usually  is  ripe  for  the  Reaper,  and  Henry 
C.  McDowell  stepped  from  the  cheerful  sunlight 
into  darkness.  The  last  time  I  saw  him  fortitude  had 
deserted  him,  and  emotion  was  expressed  by  the 
tears  which  wet  his  cheeks.  With  tottering  foot- 
step he  passed  from  public  view,  and  found,  I  hope, 
that  sweet  repose  which  is  the  reward  of  the  faithful. 
The  memory  of  his  chivalrous  nature  in  the  effulgent 
glory  of  manhood  will  always  abide  with  me. 


160 


CHAPTER  XV 

DOUBLE    HARNESS   RIVALRY 

IN   1889   Rev.   T.   DeWitt  Talmage   addressed  a 
letter  to  me,  in  which  he  says : 

"  Horses  are  very  much  like  men.  They  love  com- 
panionship. They  go  better  when  side  by  side.  The 
rataplan  of  their  hoofs,  the  breath  of  each  upon 
each,  the  magnetism  of  another  horse's  presence  are 
augmentations  of  velocity  and  power.  Of  course,  I 
speak  of  a  good  sensible  horse,  one  of  ambition  and 
pluck  and  noble  heredity.  Of  the  horse  poorly 
bred,  and  one  with  all  spirit  banged  out  of  him,  I 
do  not  speak.  You  are  right  in  supposing  I  like 
a  horse.  Ministers  always  do.  The  Bible  has  many 
horses,  and  they  are  all  spirited." 

This  letter  was  brought  out  by  a  controversy  in 
the  public  prints  over  the  merits  of  rival  pairs  in 
harness.  It  is  very  difficult  to  find  two  horses  of 
the  same  color,  size,  temperament,  and  speed,  and 
when  you  do  obtain  them,  you  have  a  pair  that  is 
the  envy  of  your  neighbors.  At  one  time  John  D. 
Rockefeller  took  great  interest  in  driving  a  good 
pair  of  trotters,  but  in  this  field  of  recreation  he 
lagged  behind  his  brother,  Wm.  Rockefeller.  The 
third  brother,  Frank  Rockefeller,  the  youngest  of 
the  family,  was  also  fond  of  double-harness  speed, 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF    MEN   AND    HORSES 

but  his  triumphs  were  achieved  in  single  harness.  In 
the  autumn  of  1882  W.  W.  Bair  drove  Mr.  W.  H. 
Vanderbilt's  mares,  Early  Rose  and  Aldine,  a  mile 
over  Charter  Oak  Park,  Hartford,  which  led  to 
controversy.  The  time  was  taken  by  men  in  the 
judges'  stand  and  on  the  track,  but  it  was  not  recog- 
nized by  the  National  Trotting  Association.  T.  C. 
Eastman,  a  close  friend  of  Mr.  Vanderbilt,  published 
a  card  September  18,  1882,  in  which  he  hotly  re- 
sented slurs  on  the  reported  time  of  Early  Rose  and 
Aldine,  September  13: 

"  On  that  occasion  there  were  four  or  five  gentle- 
men entirely  unknown  to  Mr.  Vanderbilt,  and  who 
were  accustomed  to  timing  horses,  present,  who 
timed  the  horses  in  2.16^,  and,  at  the  driver's  re- 
quest made  an  affidavit  of  the  fact.  I  wish  to  ask, 
are  these  men  not  to  be  believed  just  as  much  as 
the  individual  friends  of  Mr.  Work  who  timed  his 
horses  at  Fleetwood  Park  July  13,  and  which  time 
neither  Mr.  Vanderbilt  nor  his  friends  had  dis- 
puted? Why  should  not  this  team  of  mares  beat 
Edward  and  Dick  Swiveller?  I  am  only  one  of 
hundreds  who  think  they  can  do  it  single  or  double 
every  day  in  the  week.  Mr.  Work  has  said  pub- 
licly several  times  of  late  that  he  would  trot  his 
horses  for  fabulous  amounts  against  Early  Rose  and 
Aldine  next  week,  which  conclusively  shows  that  they 
are  in  condition.  He  has  named  large  amounts, 
knowing  that  Mr.  Vanderbilt  never  bets  on  his 
horses,  and  thinking  no  one  else  would  bet  him  on  the 
large  sum  named.  Mr.  Vanderbilt  believes  that  his 
team  made  2.i6J,  and  thinks  that  they,  with  the 

162 


DOUBLE    HARNESS    RIVALRY 

driver  who  drove  them,  can  beat  it,  and  so  does  the 
writer  of  this.  In  this  belief  and  to  stop  all  talk 
about  the  speed  of  those  horses,  the  writer  has  asked 
Mr.  Vanderbilt  for  the  loan  of  his  team  for  a  few 
days,  and  he  has  assented.  I  now  offer  to  bet 
$10,000  that  the  mare  Aldine,  owned  by  Mr.  Van- 
derbilt, will  beat  either  of  Mr.  Work's  horses,  best 
3  in  5,  on  Monday  of  next  week  at  Charter  Oak 
Park,  Hartford,  Conn.;  $10,000  that  Early  Rose, 
the  other  of  Mr.  Vanderbilt's  horses,  will  beat  the 
other  of  Mr.  Work's  horses,  best  3  in  5,  on  Wednes- 
day of  next  week  at  the  same  track,  and  $10,000 
that  Early  Rose  and  Aldine,  together,  will  beat  Ed- 
ward and  Dick  Swiveller,  best  3  in  5,  in  double 
harness,  on  Saturday  of  next  week,  Mr.  Work  to 
have  the  choice  of  which  of  his  horses  he  will  trot 
against  Aldine  on  Monday;  all  of  these  bets  to  be 
taken  or  none." 

The  following  day  Mr.  Frank  Work  published  a 
card  in  which  he  stated  that  his  horses  were  not  in 
condition  for  3  in  5  contests,  but,  "  to  show  my 
confidence  in  the  superior  speed  of  my  team,  I  am 
willing  to  make  a  match  with  Edward  and  Swiveller 
against  Early  Rose  and  Aldine  to  trot  a  competition 
mile  for  $10,000  a  side,  or  I  will  trot  my  team 
against  Mr.  Vanderbilt's  team  a  race  of  one  mile, 
owners  to  toss  which  team  shall  go  first.  Further,  I 
will  wager  T.  C.  Eastman  $10,000  that  the  team 
of  Mr.  Vanderbilt  cannot  equal  or  surpass  the  record 
of  Edward  and  Swiveller  on  the  Fleetwood  track, 
carrying  the  same  weight  to  road  wagon."  The  time 
of  the  Work  team  was  2.i6f.  The  heated  contro- 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF    MEN   AND    HORSES 

versy  was  barren  of  results.  In  1884  Edward  and 
Dick  Swiveller  trotted  to  a  record  of  2.16^,  thus 
beating  by  a  fraction  the  record  of  Mr.  Wm.  Rocke- 
feller's pair,  Independence  and  Cleora,  2.16^,  made 
in  1883.  I  have  before  me  a  letter  from  T.  J. 
Vail,  Secretary  of  the  National  Trotting  Association, 
written  to  me  May  4,  1886: 

"  I  enclose  replies  of  two  letters  written  to  Mr. 
Vanderbilt  in  September,  1882,  in  relation  to  the 
performance  of  Early  Rose  and  Aldine  as  a  team 
over  Charter  Oak  Driving  Park,  September  13,  that 
year.  I  do  not  hesitate  to  say  that  I  implicitly  be- 
lieve that  the  team  did  trot  an  exhibition  mile  in 
the  time  mentioned;  that  is  to  say,  2.17  or  better." 

The  second  of  Secretary  VaiPs  letters,  dated 
Hartford,  September  18,  1882,  sums  up  the  matter: 

"  I  have  seen  the  President  of  the  Charter  Oak 
Driving  Park,  Hon.  M.  G.  Bulkeley,  and  he  au- 
thorizes me  to  say  that  they  have  no  record  of  any 
public  race  by  your  mares,  Early  Rose  and  Aldine. 
The  officers  of  the  Park  were  not  informed  that 
such  a  race  was  proposed  for  your  mares  and  do  not 
understand  that  such  a  one  occurred,  but  rather 
that  the  mares  were  driven  on  the  I3th  at  speed 
a  mile  as  a  pair,  and  were  timed  by  several  persons 
whose  watches  varied  from  2.16^  to  2.17,  showing 
a  very  meritorious  trial,  which  appears  to  have  been 
erroneously  communicated  to  you  as  a  record." 

The  prominence  of  the  men  engaged  in  this  con- 
troversy is  my  excuse  for  going  into  details.  He 
who  reads  cannot  do  otherwise  than  arrive  at  the 

164 


DOUBLE   HARNESS   RIVALRY 

conclusion  that  the  double-harness  movement  was  at 
its  zenith  when  it  engaged  the  serious  attention  of 
such  men  as  John  D.  and  Wm.  Rockefeller,  Robert 
Bonner,  Wm.  H.  Vanderbilt,  Frank  Work,  T.  C. 
Eastman,  W.  J.  Gordon,  and  C.  J.  Hamlin.  It  was 
the  force  of  this  movement  which  finally  gave  us 
the  speedway  on  the  west  bank  of  the  Harlem  River. 

Belle  Hamlin  and  Justina,  bred  at  Village  Farm 
by  C.  J.  Hamlin,  reduced  the  double-harness  record 
to  2.13  in  1890,  and  Belle  Hamlin  and  Honest 
George  carried  it  down  to  2.12^  in  1892.  Imme- 
diately after  the  performance  Mr.  Hamlin  said 
to  me: 

"  Two  horses  of  the  same  speed  hooked  to  light 
wagon  will  trot  faster  than  either  will  single  to 
sulky,  carrying  a  driver  of  150  pounds.  The  pair 
should  be  driven  with  an  easy  rein.  The  easy  rein 
allows  them  to  alternate  in  taking  the  weight,  and 
to  freshen  themselves  by  escaping  for  an  instant  from 
the  dead  strain  on  the  muscles." 

June  14,  1883,  Mr.  W.  H.  Vanderbilt  drove 
Maud  S.  and  Aldine  to  top  road-wagon  around  old 
Fleetwood  track,  which  was  slow  when  compared 
with  modern  tracks,  in  2.15^.  Wagon  and  driver 
weighed  425  pounds,  making  the  weight  for  each 
mare  212^  pounds.  In  a  letter  to  me  T.  C.  East- 
man said: 

"  Mr.  Vanderbilt  jogged  the  mares  to  the  three- 
quarter  pole,  starting  them  down  the  stretch,  and 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF    MEN   AND    HORSES 

they  passed  under  the  wire  on  the  outside  of  the 
track,  nearing  the  pole  as  they  made  the  first  turn, 
where  they  increased  their  speed,  making  the  turn 
below  the  quarter  pole  at  a  fearful  rate  of  speed, 
Maud  S.  taking  the  whole  load — Aldine  and  all. 
In  making  that  turn,  Mr.  Vanderbilt  had  a  sensation 
of  fear  come  over  him,  and  was  about  to  pull  the 
horses  up,  but  he  was  past  the  turn  so  quick  that  he 
let  them  go  on.  This  condition  of  things  continued 
until  they  passed  the  three-quarter  pole,  where 
Maud  S.  began  to  tire.  It  was  then  that  Aldine 
made  the  effort  and  came  head  and  head  with 
Maud  S.  down  the  home  stretch,  under  the  wire  in 
2.15!.  A  good  many  people  on  the  club  house 
remarked  that  Aldine  finished  fully  up  to  Maud  S., 
but  why  shouldn't  she,  after  being  carried  over  three- 
quarters  of  a  mile?  " 

The  best  single-harness  record  of  Aldine  was 
2.19^.  This  achievement  was  more  gratifying  to 
Mr.  Vanderbilt  than  the  addition  of  another  railroad 
to  his  system.  He  drove  the  pair  with  all  the  con- 
fidence and  skill  of  a  born  reinsman. 

John  Shepard,  the  dean  of  Boston  road  riders, 
whose  experience  probably  is  not  equaled  by  any 
man  now  alive,  addressed  a  letter  to  me  in  July, 
1900,  which  I  reproduce: 

4  You  asked  me  a  while  ago  what  constituted  a 
perfect  gentleman's  road  horse.  It  is  much  easier 
to  describe  than  to  find:  A  bay  or  chestnut  15.2  high, 
weighing  about  950  pounds,  clean-cut  head  and  neck, 
bright  eye,  and  ears  always  up  and  on  the  alert  to 
know  what  is  going  on  and  what  is  wanted  of  him. 

166 


DOUBLE   HARNESS    RIVALRY 

I  like  a  nervous  horse,  a  sensitive  as  well  as  sensible 
one,  that  would  rather  go  ten  or  twelve  miles  an 
hour,  yet  without  pulling,  he  is  willing  to  go  eight 
miles  the  hour;  never  stumbles  or  hits  himself,  per- 
fectly sound  in  every  way,  so  that,  when  you  take 
a  long  or  fast  drive  with  a  pair,  you  have  not  got 
to  watch  any  leg  or  part  when  they  are  done  up  to 
see  if  they  are  all  right.  You  know  such  ones  are 
hard  to  find.  You  know  I  have  had  a  great  many, 
and  these  perfect  ones  are  like  perfect  people.  They 
must  trot  in  2.10  to-day,  and  be  good  and  smooth- 
gaited,  and  never  inclined  to  break.  There  never 
was  so  much  required  for  a  gentleman's  road  horse 
as  now.  Matinees  and  speedways  have  brought 
this  condition  about.  It  always  takes  me  a  good 
year  to  work  with  a  horse  that  has  had  good  track 
education  before  he  suits  me  at  all,  and  most  always 
he  improves  about  as  much  the  second  year.  Very 
few  horses  are  of  any  account,  unless  they  have  had 
at  least  two  years'  training  by  a  good  man  at  the 
track.  When  we  think  of  *  Pa  Hamlin  '  with  over 
500  of  the  best  horses  in  the  world  of  all  ages,  not 
being  able  since  1892  to  have  two  come  to  the  scratch 
and  beat  his  own  record  of  2. 1 2^,  can  you  wonder  that 
I  have  little  confidence  in  my  ability  to  get  two  horses 
ready  and  both  in  perfect  condition  to  try  such  a 
trick?" 

In  November,  1904,  Mr.  Shepard  said  in  a  letter 
to  me : 

"  When  I  was  sixty  years  old  I  sold  out  all  my 
trotting  stock,  feeling  that  I  was  too  old  to  try  and 
keep  at  the  head  of  the  fast  ones  here  in  Boston.  I 
remained  out  but  a  year  or  two,  as  the  old  love  of  the 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF   MEN  AND    HORSES 

trotter  was  still  alive  in  me  and  I  could  not  resist 
the  temptation  of  butting  in.  I  started  off  by  buying 
Reina  back,  who  is  one  of  the  most  wonderful  road 
horses  I  ever  knew.  I  added  to  my  string  by  buying 
Senator  L.,  who  took  a  record  of  2.09!  to  wagon 
in  a  race.  Later,  I  secured  Altro  L.  and  Promise, 
which  have  records  of  better  than  2.10.  When  I 
bought  Aldine  I  expected  to  bring  her  home  and 
drive  her  with  Mill  Boy  and  beat  all  records  pre- 
viously made,  but,  as  I  sold  her  the  next  day  to 
Mr.  Vanderbilt,  I  was  denied  that  pleasure.  Now 
that  Mr.  Billings  has  gone  so  fast,  it  is  foolish  to 
try  to  get  near  his  mark,  unless  one  has  a  mint 
of  money.  I  have  always  taken  pleasure  in  driving 
double  teams,  but  I  seem  to  have  lost  my  knack 
lately,  because  I  am  afraid  to  drive  them  fast  the 
first  half  of  the  mile,  for  fear  they  will  break  before 
they  get  started.  I  have  tried  several  times  to  dp 
it,  but  driving  against  the  watch  is  a  hard  proposi- 
tion when  you  want  to  go  a  mile  in  2.10  with  a 
pair." 

Mr.  Shepard  is  a  daring  driver,  as  everyone  will 
admit  who  has  been  on  the  road  with  him,  but  this 
does  not  handicap  his  judgment.  It  took  him  half 
a  century  to  learn  what  he  has  put  on  record  for 
my  benefit. 

In  the  summer  of  1905  Mr.  Shepard  paid  $10,000 
for  Ethel's  Pride,  and  among  the  races  that  she  won 
for  him  was  the  Transylvania  at  Lexington  in  Octo- 
ber, trotting  to  a  record  of  2.o6f. 

October  25,  1902,  Mr.  E.  T.  Bedford  drove 
lYork  Boy,  2.o8|,  and  Bemay,  2.13^,  a  mile  to 

1 68 


JOHN  SHEPARD 


DOUBLE    HARNESS    RIVALRY 

wagon  in  2.12^  on  the  half-mile  track  of  the  Park- 
way Driving  Club,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.  It  is  the  best 
double-harness  record  over  a  half-mile  track,  and 
the  details,  as  written  to  me  by  Mr.  Bedford,  are 
worth  reproducing. 

'*  The  horses  were  hooked  to  a  Perrin  road  wagon 
— not  a  speed  wagon — weighing  130  pounds,  which 
with  my  weight,  190  pounds,  made  a  total  weight 
of  320  pounds.  I  gave  them  two  preparatory  miles, 
one  in  2.27  and  one  in  2.22,  and  then  drove  them 
a  mile,  which  the  slowest  of  four  watches  made 
2.I2J.  The  fractional  parts  of  the  mile  were,  first 
eighth,  17^  seconds;  quarter,  34  seconds;  half, 
i.i6i;  three  quarters,  1.40,  and  mile  2.12^.  The 
track,  although  fast  for  this  season  of  the  year,  was 
not  as  fast  by  a  second  or  two  as  it  would  be  in  the 
summer  or  early  fall.  The  day,  for  a  fall  day,  was 
perfect,  with  very  little  wind  blowing.  The  previous 
Saturday  I  had  attempted  to  beat  the  record,  but, 
after  several  efforts,  the  best  mile  I  could  drive  them 
was  2.19^.  I  left  the  horses  at  the  track  to  be  put 
in  perfect  condition,  and  to  keep  them  off  the  stones. 
They  had  also  been  given,  comparatively  speaking, 
light  road  work,  and  I  came  to  the  conclusion  that 
leaving  them  at  the  track  had  a  tendency  to  make 
them  nervous,  so,  as  all  the  creditable  miles  I  have 
ever  driven  had  been  with  horses  out  of  my  own 
stable,  as  for  instance  the  mile  at  Norwalk,  2.15^, 
after  the  horses  had  been  jogged  seven  and  one-half 
miles  from  my  place  to  Norwalk,  I  decided  to  take 
them  away  from  the  track  and  bring  them  home 
to  my  own  stable,  which  I  did.  I  had  them  driven 
fifteen  miles  every  day,  regardless  of  the  weather, 

169 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

that  is,  from  my  stable  to  Parkway  and  back,  without 
stopping,  and  insisted  that  they  should  not  consume 
less  than  two  and  one-half  hours  in  doing  this.  This 
gave  them  practically  three  hours'  nice  slow  work  in 
the  open  air,  and,  in  charge  of  a  careful  man,  they 
jogged  or  walked  along  together  in  comfort,  and 
were  free  from  any  causes  which  might  tend  to  make 
them  nervous.  I  drove  them  a  mile  on  Wednesday 
over  Mr.  Shults's  track  in  2.25,  and  then  a  half  in 
1. 08.  At  the  end  of  this  half  I  observed  that  Bemay 
was  showing  signs  of  nervousness,  so  I  stopped. 
When  I  started  them  in  the  first  preparatory  mile 
Saturday,  Bemay  made  a  nervous  break,  but  I  sim- 
ply sat  still  and  talked  to  her  and  never  took  hold 
of  her  mouth  in  the  least,  and  she  soon  caught  her- 
self. After  that  she  showed  no  more  nervousness. 
While  she  is  not  as  fast  as  York  Boy  by  three  to 
five  seconds,  she  did  her  full  share  of  the  mile,  which 
was,  in  my  judgment,  two  or  three  seconds  faster 
than  she  could  possibly  have  gone  single.  York 
Boy  did  not  help  her  other  than  by  encouragement. 
These  two  horses  go  well  together,  because  they  are 
fond  of  each  other,  rather  than  for  any  other  rea- 
son, for  they  are  very  differently  gaited.  I  have  come 
to  the  conclusion  that,  to  have  a  team  go  well  to- 
gether, one  must  have  a  great  deal  of  patience  with 
them,  have  them  given  plenty  of  jogging  together, 
and  drive  them  with  a  comparatively  loose  line,  as 
I  did  on  Saturday.  I  have  heard  a  good  deal  said 
about  lifting  a  horse  in  by  manipulating  his  mouth, 
etc.  Personally,  I  do  not  believe  there  is  anything 
in  this.  I  believe  a  horse  with  a  comparatively  loose 
line  will  trot  faster  and  better  than  if  driven  in  any 
other  way,  as  this  team  certainly  did.  I  had  old 
drivers  advise  me  to  steady  them  and  take  them  in 

170 


DOUBLE   HARNESS   RIVALRY 

hand,  lift  them  to  the  finish,  etc.,  but  did  nothing 
of  the  sort,  and  believe  if  I  had  attempted  it,  I 
would  have  made  a  great  mistake.  I  carried  no 
whip,  and  did  not  urge  them  over  three  times  during 
the  entire  mile,  and  then  simply  by  a  chirrup.  I 
had  to  go  very  wide  on  the  turns,  because  York  Boy 
is  so  big-gaited  that  it  is  difficult  for  him  to  get 
around  the  first  turn." 

The  views  of  thoughtful  gentlemen  of  experience, 
who  are  credited  with  great  achievements,  are  worth 
more  to  the  reader  in  search  of  information  than 
volumes  of  theory,  and  I  regard  myself  as  fortunate  in 
obtaining  these  views  first  hand. 

During  the  season  of  1903  the  double-harness 
problem  was  earnestly  wrestled  with  by  a  gentleman 
able  to  buy  the  best  in  the  market,  whose  aims  are 
high  and  whose  ability  as  a  reinsman  has  seldom  been 
matched — Mr.  C.  K.  G.  Billings.  In  the  autumn  he 
drove  The  Monk  by  Chimes,  and  Equity  by  Heir- 
at-law,  at  Memphis,  to  a  record  of  2.08.  October 
21,  1904,  at  Memphis,  the  double-harness  record 
was  reduced  to  2.oyf  by  The  Monk  and  Equity. 

Having  opened  this  chapter  with  a  quotation  from 
an  eloquent  preacher,  I  will  close  it  by  reproducing 
the  words  of  another  great  pulpit  orator,  Henry 
Ward  Beecher.  In  a  letter  to  Robert  Bonner  he 
wrote : 

"  I  drive  fast  on  principle.  I  do  it  for  the  sake 
of  being  at  one  with  nature.  To  drive  slow,  only 

171 


RECOLLECTIONS   OF  MEN  AND    HORSES 

and  always,  is  to  treat  a  horse  as  if  he  were  an  ox* 
You  may  be  slow  if  you  think  proper.  But  your 
horse  should  be  kept  up  to  nature.  He  would  have 
had  but  two  legs  if  it  was  meant  that  he  should  go 
only  on  a  '  go-to-meeting '  pace.  He  has  four  legs. 
Of  course  he  ought  to  do  a  great  deal  with  them. 

"Now,  why  do  I  say  these  things  to  you?  Not 
to  convince  you  of  your  duty.  But,  I  feared  lest, 
taking  me  out  to  ride,  you  would  be  disposed  to 
think  that  I  had  scruples,  and  would  jog  along  mod- 
erately, as  if  doing  me  a  favor.  Not  at  all.  The 
wind  does  not  go  fast  enough  to  suit  me.  If  I  were 
engineer  of  a  sixty-mile-an-hour  express  train,  I 
should  covet  twenty  miles  an  hour  more. 

"  Let  the  horse  be  well-groomed — well-harnessed. 
Let  the  wagon  be  thoroughly  looked  to — no  screw 
loose,  no  flaws  just  ready  to  betray  us.  Mount.  I 
am  by  your  side.  The  whip  is  not  needed.  Yet 
let  it  stand  in  its  place,  the  graceful  hint  of  authority 
in  reserve,  which  is  always  wholesome  to  men  and 
horses. 

"  Now  get  out  of  town  cautiously.  No  speed 
here.  This  is  a  place  for  sobriety,  moderation,  and 
propriety  in  driving.  But,  once  having  shaken  off 
the  crowd,  I  give  you  a  look,  and  disappear  instantly 
in  a  wild  excitement,  as  if  all  the  trees  were  crazy 
and  had  started  off  in  a  race,  as  if  the  fences  were 
chalk  lines,  as  if  the  earth  and  skies  were  commin- 
gled, and  everything  were  wildly  mixed  in  a  super- 
natural excitement,  neither  of  earth  nor  of  the  skies ! 
The  wind  has  risen  since  we  started.  It  did  not 
blow  at  this  rate,  surely!  These  tears  are  not  of 
sorrow.  But  really  this  going  like  a  rocket  is  new 
to  every  sense.  Do  not  laugh  if  I  clutch  the  seat 
more  firmly.  I  am  not  afraid.  It  is  only  excitement. 

172 


DOUBLE   HARNESS   RIVALRY 

You  may  be  used  to  this  bird's  business  of  flying. 
But  don't  draw  the  rein.  I  am  getting  calm.  See 
that  play  of  muscle!  Splendid  machinery  was  put 
into  these  horses.  Twenty  horse-power,  at  least,  in 
each!  And  how  they  enjoy  it!  No  forcing  here. 
They  do  it  to  please  themselves,  and  thank  you  for 
a  chance!  Look  at  that  head!  Those  ears  speak 
like  a  tongue!  The  eyes  flash  with  eagerness  and 
will !  Is  it  three  miles  ?  Impossible !  It  is  not  more 
than  half  a  mile ! 

"  Well,  draw  up.  Let  me  get  off,  now,  and  see 
these  brave  creatures.  What?  Not  enough  yet? 
No  painful  puffing,  no  throbbing  of  the  flanks.  They 
step  nervously,  and  champ  the  bit,  and  lean  to  your 
caresses,  as  if  they  said :  '  All  this  we  have  done  to 
please  you,  now  just  let  us  go  on  to  please  our- 
selves! \  " 


173 


CHAPTER  XVI 

HORSE   SHOWS  AND  THEIR   CONTROVERSIES 

LONG  before  the  National  Horse  Show  Association 
was  founded  in  1885,  there  were  arena  competitions 
for  prizes,  and  he  who  made  the  awards  had  to  have 
knowledge  of  form,  as  well  as  action.  In  the  small 
ring  speed  could  not  be  satisfactorily  tested  under 
the  watch,  and  the  trained  eye  was  the  sole  reliance. 
The  verdict  was  not  reached  until  form,  as  well  as 
action,  had  been  analyzed,  and  this  verdict  gave  rise 
to  many  heartburnings.  At  the  great  St.  Louis 
Fair,  at  State  Fairs  in  Maine,  Massachusetts,  Ver- 
mont, New  York,  Ohio,  Kentucky,  and  elsewhere, 
horses  passed  in  review  before  me,  and  I  handed  out 
blue,  red,  yellow,  and  white  rosettes  with  a  feeling 
that,  although  I  had  tried  to  be  just  to  all,  I  prob- 
ably had  failed  to  render  unto  each  what  he  was 
entitled  to.  The  conscientious  judge  does  not  regard 
himself  as  infallible,  and  therefore  does  not  com- 
plain of  fair  and  intelligent  criticism.  Notwith- 
standing the  upbuilding  influence  of  arena  competi- 
tions at  agricultural  fairs,  there  was  a  growing  ten- 
dency to  sacrifice  everything  to  the  speed  standard. 
Trotting  tracks  multiplied  to  such  a  degree  that  re- 
sistance to  this  tendency  seemed  wellnigh  hopeless. 
The  National  Horse  Show  was  a  financial  failure 

174 


HORSE   SHOWS   AND   CONTROVERSIES 

at  first,  but  the  directing  heads  were  not  discouraged, 
and  success  was  finally  the  reward  of  persistence. 
Now  Madison  Square  Garden  is  the  great  focal 
point  of  interest  during  horse-show  week  in  Novem- 
ber, and  the  rule  of  Fashion  is  absolute.  The  edu- 
cational character  of  the  show  was  so  marked,  giving 
emphasis  to  beauty  of  outline,  manners,  and  ap- 
pointments, as  well  as  to  motion,  that  its  best  features 
were  reproduced  in  other  social  centers,  to  the  ad- 
vantage of  the  breeder  and  handler,  and  to  the  in- 
structive pleasure  of  the  community  at  large.  The 
sea  is  not  always  calm.  There  are  unexpected  things 
which  seriously  disturb  it.  The  President  of  the 
Horse  Show  Association  must  be  versed  in  diplomacy 
to  calm  the  troubled  waters.  At  the  Philadelphia 
Horse  Show,  in  the  spring  of  1895,  Colonel  Law- 
rence Kip,  who  had  excited  envy  by  winning  season 
after  season  in  New  York,  met  with  keen  disappoint- 
ment. His  celebrated  light-harness  pair,  Mona  and 
My  May,  were  disqualified,  and  he  expressed  himself 
in  no  uncertain  tones.  I  quote  from  a  letter  which 
he  sent  to  me  for  publication: 

"  Of  course  Mr.  Cassatt  had  done  just  right  and 
tried  to  help  his  associates  out  of  the  hole.  His 
vets,  say  Mona  was  lame.  She  is  a  Jay  Gould,  pe- 
culiarly gaited,  and  was  not  lame.  My  May,  they 
say,  whistled.  She  is  free  and  sometimes  frets  when 
you  take  her  back.  She  did  not  whistle.  I  certainly 
know  something  about  the  soundness  of  a  horse. 
We  were  entered  in  a  special,  one  prize.  Four  rib- 

175 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

bons  were  given,  three  to  Philadelphia  and  one  to 
a  coach  team  that  had  no  business  in  the  ring.  The 
only  way  they  could  beat  me  was  to  declare  the  team 
unsound.  Otherwise,  all  the  blue  ribbons  of  the 
week  would  have  gone  to  my  stable  instead  of  to 
Philadelphians.  If  beaten  on  my  merits,  I  should 
have  said  nothing.  After  this  decision  I  at  once 
shipped  my  team  to  New  York,  and  sent  for  a  vet. 
to  examine  them.  He  was  several  days  at  it,  and 
gave  them  a  most  critical  examination.  He  and  his 
assistant  pronounced  them  absolutely  sound.  If  My 
May  was  broken-winded,  she  would  not  have  re- 
covered her  form  in  one  day." 

Colonel  Kip  wound  up  his  letter  with  the  remark : 
"  I  shall  be  more  domestic  in  the  future,  and  others 
may  profit  by  my  experience." 

Mr.  A.  J.  Cassatt,  President  of  the  Pennsylvania 
Railroad,  who  was  President  of  the  Philadelphia 
Horse  Show  Association,  in  sending  me  a  courteous, 
but  caustic,  reply  to  Colonel  Kip,  wrote  me  a  per- 
sonal letter : 

"  I  send  herewith  an  answer  to  Colonel  Kip's 
letter,  explaining  the  position  of  our  Association, 
but  I  would  be  very  much  obliged  if  you  will  simply 
insert  it  with  a  quiet  heading.  Please  do  not  call 
it  the  Cassatt-Kip  Controversy,  as  I  do  not  want 
to  have  any  newspaper  controversy  with  Colonel  Kip, 
or  anybody  else.  What  I  am  writing  is  simply  in 
justice  to  our  Association,  and  to  refute  Colonel 
Kip's  unsportsmanlike  and  unneighborly  attack  upon 
us,  and  I  shall  drop  the  subject  here." 

I  complied  with  the  request  of  Mr.  Cassatt,  but,  in 
176 


A.  J.  CASSATT 


HORSE    SHOWS   AND    CONTROVERSIES 

spite  of  the  modest  heading,  his  letter  was  widely 
read.     In  closing  his  reply  to  it,  Colonel  Kip  said: 

"  Mr.  Cassatt  makes  a  mistake  when  he  says  that 
I  have  attempted  to  discredit  the  management  of  a 
kindred  Association.  Neither  by  word  nor  deed 
have  I  given  Mr.  Cassatt  reason  to  make  such  a 
statement.  The  Association  is  a  great  one,  and  all 
its  members  should  be  proud  of  it.  A  few  years  ago 
one  of  our  vets.  (National  Horse  Show  Association) 
was  discarded  because  charges  and  complaints  were 
made  against  him.  That  did  not  mean  that  the 
people  making  them  were  hostile  or  desired  to  throw 
discredit  upon  our  Association.  Mr.  Cassatt  says 
I  know  perfectly  well  the  difficulties  that  managers 
of  horse  shows  have  to  contend  with.  I  do,  and 
I  have  been  in  the  business  since  the  organization  of 
the  National  Horse  Show;  therefore,  all  the  more 
regret  moving  in  any  matter  that  might  cause  the 
directors  of  any  show  trouble  of  any  kind." 

I  am  glad  to  say  that  the  heated  controversy  left 
no  serious  sting.  Mr.  Cassatt  was  one  of  the  direc- 
tors of  the  National  Horse  Show,  and,  a  few  months 
after  the  publication  of  the  correspondence,  I  sat  in 
the  box  of  Colonel  Kip  at  the  show  in  Madison 
Square  Garden,  and  pleasantly  chatted  with  him  in 
the  adjoining  box,  as  did  Colonel  Kip.  It  was  the 
prominence  of  the  men  which  drew  national  atten- 
tion to  the  little  exchange  of  compliments.  Colonel 
Kip  was  a  successful  exhibitor  at  horse  shows,  be- 
cause he  never  sent  a  poorly  appointed  team  before  the 
judges.  His  taste  was  exquisite,  and  he  was  a  leader 

177 


RECOLLECTIONS   OF   MEN  AND    HORSES 

of  fashion  in  this  particular.  Attempts  were  fre- 
quently made  to  copy  him,  but  he  was  progressive 
and  kept  in  advance  of  his  imitators.  His  influence 
upon  the  light-driving  school  was  marked,  and  he  is 
borne  in  grateful  remembrance.  It  is  a  pity  that 
his  days  could  not  have  been  longer  in  the  land. 
From  hundreds  of  letters  in  my  file  I  select  a  brief 
note: 

"  DEAR  BUSBEY:  I  send  you  the  list  we  spoke  of. 
I  will  say  here  that  I  originated  this  list  and  others 
copied  it.  Cannot  keep  stable  secrets. 

"  Sincerely, 

"  LAWRENCE  KIP." 

List  of  articles  in  wagon  pocket:  i  hoof  pick, 
I  oil  can,  I  monkey  wrench,  blanket  pins,  whisk 
broom,  i  set  of  wagon  washers,  i  pair  shaft  rubbers, 
I  harness  punch,  i  wagon  jack,  I  goggles  or  glasses, 
scrapers. 

Here  are  eleven  articles,  and  they  are  all  that  are 
needed  for  a  drive  through  the  park  and  on  the  road. 
Mr.  R.  M.  C.  Lord,  who  went  into  the  light-harness 
ring  at  Madison  Square  Garden  at  one  of  the  No- 
vember shows,  handed  me  a  list  of  the  things  which 
he  had  in  his  road  wagon,  which  I  have  preserved: 
Cooler,  witch  hazel,  wrench,  sponge,  chloroform, 
snaffle  bit,  lap  robe,  halter,  pins,  castor  oil,  holders, 
rub  cloth,  nails,  hammer,  whip,  bandages,  rattlers, 
washers,  flask,  drenching  bottle,  storm  cooler,  mack- 
intosh, hoof  pick,  corkscrew,  galls  cure,  boots,  horse- 
shoes, currycomb. 


HORSE   SHOWS   AND   CONTROVERSIES 

Here  are  twenty-eight  articles,  against  eleven, 
which  is  elaboration  to  a  cumbersome  degree.  The 
man  who  goes  for  a  two-hours'  drive  does  not  care 
to  load  up  with  things  that  come  handy  in  a  drive 
across  the  continent.  Refined  simplicity  was  a  char- 
acteristic of  Lawrence  Kip.  He  was  a  soldier  by 
profession  and  was  ten  years  in  the  army  among  the 
Indians  before  the  Civil  War.  He  was  Inspector 
General  on  General  Wool's  staff  during  the  riots,  and 
was  on  General  Phil  Sheridan's  staff  in  all  of  that 
dashing  officer's  campaigns.  He  witnessed  the  sur- 
render at  Appomattox,  and  resigned  his  commission 
two  years  after  the  war.  He  was  President  of 
the  Coney  Island  Jockey  Club,  Vice  President  of  the 
National  Horse  Show  Association,  President  of  the 
Suburban  Riding  and  Driving  Club,  and  a  member 
of  the  Union,  Metropolitan  and  Tuxedo  Clubs.  He 
took  great  interest  in  the  bill  approved  by  Governor 
Frank  S.  Black,  which  brought  prosperity  to  the  run- 
ning turf  in  the  State  of  New  York.  Under  date  of 
January  25,  1897,  ^e  wrote  to  me: 

"  Bradford  and  I  had  a  talk  to-day  about  racing 
matters.  We  came  to  the  conclusion  that  if  you 
could  bring  General  Tracy  and  Auerbach  together 
a  great  deal  of  good  could  be  accomplished.  If 
the  running  interest  and  the  trotting  interest  pull 
in  different  directions,  much  harm  to  both  will  fol- 
low. On  the  contrary,  great  good,  if  they  pull  to- 
gether. Mr.  Auerbach  has  information,  I  am  told, 
that  would  be  of  great  value  to  General  Tracy,  Has 

179 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

General  Tracy  prepared  his  bill  yet?     I  hope  you 
will  bring  these  parties  together." 

February  9,  1897,  he  wrote  me  another  letter, 
from  which  I  extract: 

"  I  told  Bradford  to  arrange  with  Auerbach  to 
meet  General  Tracy.  I  am  leaving  town  next  week. 
I  should  like  to  have  them  meet  before  the  bill  is 
sent  up." 

The  endorsement  of  General  Benj.  F.  Tracy  was 
necessary  to  pass  a  bill  through  the  Republican  Leg- 
islature at  Albany,  and  to  obtain  the  approval  of 
Governor  Black.  The  ex-Secretary  of  the  Navy  was 
reluctant  to  give  this  endorsement,  and  he  declined 
to  do  so  until,  at  the  urgent  request  of  Mr.  August 
Belmont,  I  arranged  for  a  meeting  between  the 
General  and  Mr.  Auerbach.  After  that  all  was 
plain  sailing  and  racing  took  giant  strides  forward. 

At  the  Boston  Horse  Show  in  April,  1902,  G.  M. 
Webb,  the  manager  of  the  stable  of  Mr.  E.  T. 
Stotesbury  of  Philadelphia,  created  a  ripple  of  ex- 
citement by  lodging  a  protest  against  the  mare 
Blue  Seal,  owned  and  entered  by  Mr.  W.  M.  V. 
Hoffman.  It  afterwards  was  made  plain  that  Mr. 
Webb  was  mistaken  as  to  the  identity  of  the  mare 
which  he  protested,  and  which,  on  account  of  the 
protests,  remained  in  her  stall.  At  the  November, 
1902,  Horse  Show  in  Madison  Square  Garden,  Mr. 
Hoffman  was  again  in  competition  with  Mr.  Stotes- 
bury, and  the  awards  led  to  controversy.  In  a  letter 

180 


W.  M.  V.  HOFFMAN 


HORSE   SHOWS   AND   CONTROVERSIES 

addressed  to  the  National  Horse  Show  Association 
Mr.  Hoffman  stated  his  case: 

"  The  mare,  Ruritania,  driven  by  Mr.  Webb  in 
class  15,  was  unanimously  declared  unsound  by  all 
three  of  the  Association  veterinary  surgeons,  and  was 
given  the  gate  on  account  of  being  unsound.  After 
the  mare  was  given  the  gate,  the  driver  of  the  mare, 
Mr.  Webb,  obtained  immediate  permission  from  the 
ring  committee  of  that  day  to  re-enter  the  ring  with 
the  mare,  after  unhooking  her  from  the  vehicle,  and 
allowed  a  groom  to  jog  the  animal  in  the  ring  up 
and  down  in  front  of  the  veterinary  surgeons  in 
order  to  try  to  prove  that  the  mare  was  not  unsound. 
After  jogging  the  mare  up  and  down  several  times, 
one  of  the  veterinary  surgeons  declared  the  mare  to 
be  sound,  the  other  two  still  holding  to  their  opinion 
that  the  mare  was  unsound.  The  ring  committee 
then  allowed  the  mare  to  be  rehooked  to  the  vehicle 
and  to  re-enter  the  competition,  and  she  was  imme- 
diately awarded  the  first  prize,  and  my  mare,  ^Vida 
Wilkes,  was  awarded  second  prize.  I  write  this  let- 
ter simply  to  ask  your  Board  of  Directors  whether 
it  is  right  or  just,  after  a  horse  has  been  declared 
unsound  by  the  veterinary  surgeons  and  given  the 
gate  on  account  of  such  unsoundness,  to  be  allowed 
within  the  space  of  three  minutes  to  re-enter  the  same 
competition." 

The  statement  of  Mr.  Hoffman  was  questioned 
by  the  directors,  and  a  bombshell  came  in  the  shape 
of  a  statement,  signed  by  the  three  veterinary  sur- 
geons, Wm.  Sheppard,  Thomas  G.  Sherwood,  and 
J.  E.  Ryder: 

181 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

'*  When  the  mare  Ruritania  came  into  the  ring 
on  Saturday  afternoon,  November  22,  1902,  we  no- 
ticed that  she  did  not  go  sound,  and  we  ruled  her 
out  as  unsound.  We  notified  the  driver,  Mr.  Webb, 
the  ring  committee,  and  two  of  the  judges  to  this 
effect.  After  we  had  made  the  above  reports,  the 
ring  committee  decided  to  allow  the  driver  of  the 
mare  to  unharness  her  and  lead  the  mare  to  halter 
in  the  ring.  Two  of  us  held  to  our  opinion  that 
the  mare  was  not  free  from  lameness,  and  one 
thought  she  went  sound.  She  again  became  a  com- 
petitor, and  was  awarded  first  prize." 

The  daily  journals  made  a  sensation  of  the  story, 
and  bitter  feeling  was  engendered,  but  there  was 
no  change  of  awards.  Colonel  Lawrence  Kip  had 
then  passed  over  to  the  majority,  and  I  have  often 
wondered  what  he  would  have  said  had  he  been  alive. 
It  was  in  Philadelphia  that  his  mares  were  ruled 
out  as  unsound,  and  seven  years  later  a  New  Yorker 
charged  that  he  had  been  discriminated  against  in 
the  New  York  show,  and  in  favor  of  a  Philadelphian. 
It  was  something  like  wayward  chickens  coming 
home  to  roost. 

Mr.  Hoffman,  who  always  tries  to  send  his  horses 
before  judges  in  perfect  condition,  and  whose  taste 
for  appointments  is  second  only  to  that  displayed 
by  Colonel  Kip,  all  through  the  animated  controversy 
held  Mr.  E.  T.  Stotesbury  blameless.  The  Phila- 
delphia banker  was  not  present  and  knew  nothing  of 
the  affair  until  after  the  award  had  been  made. 


182 


CORNELIUS  FELLOWES 

PRESIDENT  NATIONAL   HORSE  SHOW   ASSOCIATION  OF  AMERICA 


CHAPTER  XVII 

R.    S.    VEECH   AND   INDIAN   HILL 

AT  the  time  I  write,  the  oldest  living  trotting-horse 
breeder  of  note  is  R.  S.  Veech,  founder  of  Indian 
Hill  Stock  Farm,  near  Louisville,  Ky.  In  the  old 
days  1000  acres  were  in  grass  and  the  pastures  were 
watered  by  the  stream  known  as  Bear  Grass.  The 
soil  rested  upon  a  limestone  foundation  and  the  grass 
contained  bone  and  muscle-producing  properties.  In 
the  ground-work  of  his  stud  Mr.  Veech  recognized 
the  marked  superiority  of  the  Hambletonian  and 
Mambrino  Chief  families,  and  his  leading  stallion, 
Princeps,  was  by  Woodford  Mambrino  (son  of 
Mambrino  Chief),  out  of  Primrose  by  Alexander's 
Abdallah,  son  of  Rysdyk's  Hambletonian.  Wood- 
ford  Mambrino  was  one  of  the  most  determined 
of  race  horses,  and  a  conspicuous  sire  of  speed.  The 
famous  queen  of  the  trotting  turf,  Goldsmith  Maid, 
2.14,  was  a  daughter  of  Alexander's  Abdallah. 
Princeps  was  a  horse  of  16  hands,  of  fine  temper, 
action,  and  resolution,  and  he  won  an  enviable  repu- 
tation as  a  sire  of  trotters  that  could  successfully 
fight  the  battles  of  the  Grand  Circuit.  Through 
Black  Rose,  his  granddam,  as  well  as  through  Wood- 
bine, the  dam  of  Woodford  Mambrino,  he  traced 
directly  to  the  thoroughbred,  and  races  of  divided 

183 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

heats  were  the  joy  of  his  descendants.  As  time  went 
by  Mr.  Veech  made  use  of  other  stallions  at  Indian 
Hill,  such  as  Arthurton  by  Rysdyk's  Hambletonian 
out  of  Imogene  by  Seely's  American  Star;  Director, 
2.17,  by  Dictator  out  of  Dolly  by  Mambrino  Chief; 
Phallas,  2.13!,  by  Dictator  out  of  Betsy  Trotwood, 
by  Clark  Chief,  and  Axtell,  2.12,  by  William  L.,  out 
of  Lou  by  Mambrino  Boy.  Dictator  was  leased  for 
a  season  and  so  was  Phallas.  The  latter  by  virtue 
of  his  record  was  the  champion  trotting  stallion,  and 
I  quote  from  a  letter  written  to  me  by  Mr.  Veech 
February  14,  1888: 

"  I  have  just  closed  a  contract  for  the  exclusive 
public  service  of  Phallas  during  his  season  in  Ken- 
tucky, from  February  i  to  May  i,  no  one  else  but 
the  Glenview  Company  being  permitted  to  breed  to 
him  during  that  period.  I  trust  that  the  cross  will 
prove  successful,  and  a  benefit  to  the  trotting-horse 
interests  of  the  country." 

Many  of  the  daughters  of  Princeps  were  bred  to 
Phallas.  After  Axtell  had  trotted  to  a  three-year- 
old  record  of  2.12,  and  had  changed  owners  for  the 
great  sum  of  $105,000,  Mr.  Veech  bred  fifteen 
mares  to  him  at  $1000  each.  In  the  brood-mare 
band  at  Indian  Hill  in  1886  were  five  by  Rysdyk's 
Hambletonian,  eight  by  George  Wilkes,  twelve  by 
Volunteer,  five  by  Messenger  Duroc,  and  others 
by  Nutwood,  Alexander's  Abdallah,  Mambrino 
Patchen,  Woodford  Mambrino,  Sentinel,  Hamlet, 
and  Pilot  Mambrino.  One  of  the  brood  mares 

184 


R.    S.   VEECH   AND    INDIAN    HILL 

was  Farce  by  Princeps,  dam  Roma  by  Gold- 
dust,  second  dam  Bruna  by  Pilot  Jr.  She  trotted 
to  a  record  of  2.29^,  and  her  sister,  Romance,  to 
a  record  of  2.29^.  Speed  came  from  both.  Bon 
Voyage,  the  bay  colt  who  won  the  two-year-old 
Futurity  at  Lexington,  October  5,  1904,  in  2.15, 
2.15^,  the  fastest  of  the  class  for  the  year,  is  by 
Expedition  out  of  Bon  Mot  by  Erin,  and  she  out 
of  Farce.  Jack  Axworthy,  bay  gelding,  foaled  1902, 
and  who  beat  Bon  Voyage  at  Lexington  the  week 
after  the  Futurity  in  2.15^,  2.16^,  is  by  Axworthy, 
out  of  My  Trinket  by  Stamboul,  she  out  of  Trinket, 
2.14,  by  Princeps.  These  were  the  two  best  two- 
year-old  performances  for  the  season  of  1904. 
Ouida,  dam  of  Trinket,  was  one  of  the  great  brood 
mares  at  Indian  Hill.  Her  sire  was  Princeps,  and 
her  dam  was  the  running-bred  mare,  Morning  Glory 
by  imp.  Consternation.  Trinket  was  a  sensational 
trotter,  and  Ouida  is  now  recognized  as  a  fountain 
of  speed.  Toto,  the  sister  of  Trinket,  is  the  dam 
of  three,  and  her  daughter  Charm,  by  Santa  Claus, 
is  the  dam  of  eight  in  the  list.  Triton,  the  brother 
of  Trinket,  trotted  fast  the  spring  he  was  three  years 
old,  but  was  injured  and  thrown  out  of  training.  He 
is  a  sire  of  speed.  Mr.  Veech  was  rewarded  by  ad- 
hering in  the  face  of  ignorant  clamor  to  speed-sup- 
porting blood.  Epaulet,  who  trotted  to  a  five-year- 
old  record  of  2.19,  and  who  was  sold  for  $22,500, 
was  by  Auditor  (son  of  Hambletonian  and  My  Lady 
by  imp.  Trustee)  out  of  Pantalette  (dam  of  Esco- 

185 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

bar,  2.13!,  and  Burglar,  2.244)  by  Princeps,  and 
she  out  of  Florence  by  Volunteer.  Burglar,  Esco- 
bar, and  Epaulet  are  sires  of  speed,  but  the  rank  of 
Epaulet  is  much  the  highest. 

From  a  letter  written  to  me  by  R.  S.  Veech  No- 
vember 14,  1904,  I  extract: 

"  I  remember  with  a  great  deal  of  pleasure  the 
days  now  forever  gone,  when  you  and  your  friends 
from  New  York  used  to  make  an  annual  invasion  of 
Kentucky,  as  Myron  P.  Bush  called  it.  The  breeding 
farms  of  that  day,  including  Messrs.  Alexander,  West, 
Pepper,  Stoner,  McFerran,  McDowell,  and  others  too 
numerous  to  name,  are  no  longer  in  existence,  and  the 
proprietors  thereof  have  passed  over  the  river.  Messrs. 
Backman,Thorne,  and  Goldsmith  are  no  longer  among 
the  living.  I  alone,  excepting  our  good  friend  Lucas 
Brodhead,  seem  to  be  left  to  remind  one  of  ^  those 
happy  days.  My  good  wife,  who  always  rejoiced 
to  meet  and  entertain  my  friends,  passed  away  last 
April.  If  I  had  my  life  to  live  over,  I  don't  know 
how  it  could  be  spent  more  happily  than  on  a  stock 
farm  talking  horse  with  my  friends  that  came  to  the 
house.  It  was  one  continual  life  of  pleasure,  delight- 
ful and  innocent.  For  the  last  few  years  I  have  had 
from  eight  to  twelve  foals  each  year.  The  grand- 
dams  of  the  best  two-year-old  trotters  out  this  year 
were  bred  at  Indian  Hill,  and  were  got  by  Princeps." 

Mr.  Veech  is  a  quiet,  thoughtful  man,  fond  of  his 
own  fireside.  When  sitting  with  him  and  his  wife 
in  the  days  to  which  he  alludes,  in  front  of  the 
cheerful  blaze,  I  have  been  reminded  of  the  social 
development  which  followed  the  discovery  of  primi- 

186 


R.   S.   VEECH   AND   INDIAN    HILL 

tive  man — making  fire  by  friction.  The  spark  be- 
came a  flame,  and  the  woman  who  bore  children 
stood  guard  over  it,  while  man,  the  hunter,  roamed 
in  search  of  food  and  returned  at  nightfall  armed 
against  hunger.  Fire  thus  was  the  beginning  of 
home,  and,  through  all  subsequent  ages,  the  poet 
has  sung  of  the  sweetness  and  the  tender  graces  of 
the  fireside.  It  was  in  the  library  of  the  mansion  at 
Indian  Hill  that  Mr.  Veech  carefully  weighed  blood 
lines  in  the  balance,  rejecting  those  found  wanting, 
and  making  such  wise  use  of  those  which  stood  the 
test  as  to  place  the  farm  in  the  front  rank  of  breed- 
ing establishments.  When  weary  of  complex  prob- 
lems, the  lawn,  the  shrubbery,  and  the  birds,  which 
seemed  to  court  familiarity,  diverted  his  mind  and 
stimulated  afresh  his  love  of  the  domestic  fireside. 
The  man  who  succeeds  as  a  breeder  must  think  as 
well  as  act  He  cannot  glide  through  life  on  but- 
terfly wings. 

As  I  look  from  my  study  window,  in  the  fading 
light  of  a  golden  afternoon,  out  upon  the  withered 
grass  of  the  mesa,  touched  by  the  frosts  of  Novem- 
ber, and  at  the  mountains  which  notch  the  sky,  re- 
vealing foundations  of  impressive  boldness  and 
strength,  silent  but  overwhelming  evidence  of  Om- 
nipotence, memories  of  pleasant  days  at  Indian  Hill 
rise  up  with  R.  S.  Veech  as  the  central  figure  of  the 
group,  and,  now  that  the  sweetly  cherished  light  of 
my  own  home  has  gone  out,  a  longing  for  the  old 
fireside  steals  over  me. 


CHAPTER  XVIII 

E.   H.    HARRIMAN  AND  OTHER  BREEDERS 

WHEN  I  first  met  Edward  H.  Harriman  he  kept 
one  horse  which  he  drove  on  the  road,  and  now  and 
then  stopped  at  Gabe  Case's  or  John  Barry's.  Time 
was  more  valuable  to  him  than  to  other  road  riders, 
such  as  Lawrence  Kip  and  A.  Newbold  Morris,  and 
less  and  less  he  mingled  with  the  circles  of  good 
cheer.  When  he  became  one  of  the  great  railroad 
powers  of  the  country,  he  turned  his  attention  to 
breeding,  and  the  Arden  Farms  establishment  was 
a  positive  recreation.  He  controlled  the  half-mile 
track  at  Goshen,  and  it  was  his  custom  on  pleasant 
summer  days  to  drive  there  with  members  of  his 
family  and  participate  in  a  series  of  contests.  He 
would  get  up  in  the  sulky  behind  Stamboul  or  John 
R.  Gentry,  and  forget  perplexing  questions  of  busi- 
ness in  a  flight  around  the  circle.  Choosing  from 
the  quartette  of  Elsie  S.,  Helen  Grace,  Rival,  and 
Hilda  S.,  all  mares  with  fast  records,  he  would  match 
his  skill  against  that  of  his  professional  trainer,  W. 
J.  Andrews,  and  the  glow  on  his  face,  when  he  suc- 
ceeded in  first  reaching  the  wire,  was  worth  more 
than  all  the  drugs  in  Christendom.  Driving  in  the 
open  air  was  a  real  tonic  to  a  man  whose  nerves  were 
delicately  tuned,  and  whose  appearance  was  far  from 

188 


E.    H.    HARRIMAN   AND    OTHER    BREEDERS 

robust.  Mrs.  Harriman  enjoyed  these  exhibitions 
of  speed,  and  it  was  largely  owing  to  her  influence 
that  Mr.  Harriman  kept  up  his  breeding  establish- 
ment. For  Stamboul  Mr.  Harriman  paid  $41,000, 
and  he  did  not  regret  the  transaction,  albeit  the 
American  Trotting  Register  Association  rejected  the 
record  of  2.07^.  The  race-horse  quality  of  Stam- 
boul was  demonstrated  by  his  victory  in  the  Grand 
National  Stallion  Stakes,  $20,000,  at  Bay  District 
Track,  San  Francisco,  October  20,  1888.  The  stal- 
lion was  driven  by  Orrin  A.  Hickok,  and  he  won 
in  2.17,  2.175,  2.17,  after  losing  the  first  heat  to 
Woodnut  by  Nutwood  in  2.17.  The  third  competitor 
was  Antevolo.  In  the  language  of  one  of  the  chron- 
iclers of  the  event,  "  There  was  not  a  speck  in  the 
blue  sky,  which  always  paled  the  deep  tone  of  the 
ocean.  The  afternoon  breezes  were  zephyrs  such 
as  the  weather-worn  inhabitants  of  the  East  only 
dream  of."  After  his  transfer  to  Arden  Farms, 
Stamboul  was  a  blue-ribbon  winner  at  the  horse 
shows,  and,  when  he  died,  he  was  buried  in  the  pretty 
infield  of  the  Goshen  track.  John  R.  Gentry,  the 
handsome  pacing  stallion,  is  one  of  the  pets  of  Mr. 
Harriman,  who  has  frequently  driven  him  on  the 
road.  When  John  R.  Gentry  in  1896  defeated  Joe 
Patchen  at  Springfield,  111.,  Mr.  Harriman  was  one 
of  the  60,000  spectators,  and  displayed  the  enthu- 
siasm of  youth.  In  the  summer  of  1899  Mr.  Harri- 
man went  with  the  scientific  expedition  to  Alaskan 
waters,  the  expenses  of  which  expedition  he  paid, 

189 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

and  the  result  was  a  valuable  addition  to  the 
world's  fund  of  knowledge.  As  the  active  spirit  of 
the  Orange  County  Horse  and  Road  Improvement 
Association,  Mr.  Harriman  has  made  driving  more 
comfortable  than  ever  before  in  that  great  grazing 
district,  and,  as  the  founder  of  the  Orange  County 
Horse  Show  and  the  Orange  County  Hunt,  he  has 
contributed  immensely  to  the  brightness  of  life. 

Parkway  Farm,  the  country  home  of  the  late  John 
McCarty,  is  on  rising  ground  facing  the  Orange 
County  Driving  Park,  and  it  is  very  pleasant  to  sit 
in  the  shade  of  the  trees  on  a  summer  morning  and 
see  the  horses  make  the  circuit.  The  famous  pacer, 
Joe  Patchen,  sire  of  Dan  Patch,  was  owned  by  Mr. 
McCarty,  and  I  have  frequently  seen  this  great  stal- 
lion jogging  to  the  railway  station  at  Goshen  and 
meet  John  R.  Gentry  on  the  way.  The  two  horses 
were  bitter  antagonists  for  years,  and  I  sometimes 
wondered  what  their  thoughts  were  as  they  con- 
fronted each  other  in  the  shaded  streets  of  a  town 
given  over  to  repose.  Mr.  McCarty  died  in  October, 
1905. 

J.  Howard  Ford,  who  after  the  death  of  Charles 
Backman  became  the  master  of  Stony  Ford,  is  keep- 
ing up  the  traditions  of  the  grand  old  place.  He 
made  many  changes  in  the  mansion,  but  left  the 
smoking-room  as  it  was,  and  the  little  conventions 
gather  around  the  center  table,  as  in  days  of  yore, 
and  talk  horse  and  settle  to  their  own  satisfaction  the 
grave  questions  which  agitate  the  world.  The  lead- 

190 


AUSTRAL,  OWNED  BY  J.   HOWARD  FORD,  STONY  FORD 


E.    H.    HARRIMAN   AND   OTHER   BREEDERS 

ing  stallion  is  Austral,  a  handsome  brown  of  15.3, 
by  Bow  Bells  (son  of  Electioneer  and  Beautiful 
Bells),  dam  Rosy  Morn,  the  great  producing  daugh- 
ter of  Alcantara,  second  dam  Noontide,  the  produc- 
ing daughter  of  Harold;  third  dam  Midnight,  the 
producing  daughter  of  Pilot  Jr.;  fourth  dam  Twi- 
light by  Lexington,  and  fifth  dam  Daylight  by  imp. 
Glencoe.  It  is  a  remarkable  pedigree,  and  Austral 
is  a  fine  individual  and  a  sire  of  speed.  The  brood 
mares,  selected  for  quality  and  speed-producing 
lines,  graze  with  their  foals  in  the  pasture  in  front 
of  the  mansion,  and  the  beautiful  picture  revives 
memories  of  the  long  ago. 

Mr.  Wm.  Rockefeller  started  a  small  breeding 
farm  at  Greenwich,  Conn.,  and  his  stallion  was  In- 
dependence, by  General  Knox,  who,  in  1883,  trotted 
in  double  harness  with  Cleora  to  a  record  of  2.16^. 
Only  a  few  mares  were  bred  to  Independence,  and 
their  foals  were  used  on  the  road.  Mr.  Rockefeller 
changed  his  country  residence  to  the  banks  of  the 
Hudson,  and  his  breeding  enterprise  came  to  an 
abrupt  end.  His  brother,  Mr.  Frank  Rockefeller, 
established  a  breeding  farm  at  Cleveland,  Ohio,  and 
for  a  time  was  quite  a  factor  in  the  business.  His 
principal  stallion  was  Haroldmont,  a  chestnut  of 
1 6  hands,  by  Harold  out  of  Wilna  by  Belmont,  she 
out  of  Woodford  Belle  by  Gay's  Mambrino.  As  a 
three-year-old  Haroldmont  was  fast,  but  met  with  an 
accident  which  retired  him  from  the  training  school, 
and  then  he  was  relegated  to  the  stud.  The  best  of 

191 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

his  get  were  Rizpah,  2.13!  (trial  2.09^),  and  Het- 
tiemont,  2.i6J.  The  second  stallion  was  Extractor, 
a  chestnut  by  Expedition,  2.15!,  dam  Rosebush  by 
Woodford  Mambrino,  second  dam  Primrose  by 
Alexander's  Abdallah.  I  was  at  Woodburn  Farm 
when  Extractor,  as  a  three-year-old  in  1895,  trotted 
in  2. 1 81,  and  was  sold  to  Mr.  Rockefeller.  As  a  four- 
year-old  the  young  horse  was  lamed  and  thrown  out 
of  training.  He  was  a  great  prospect,  but  an  acci- 
dent spoiled  his  career.  Mr.  Rockefeller's  fastest  trot- 
ter was  Maud  C.  by  Binderton,  by  Belmont,  dam 
Nita  Atlantic  by  Almont.  She  obtained  a  public 
record  of  2.ioJ,  but  in  1896  trotted  a  quarter  to 
wagon  in  30  seconds,  and  a  half-mile  to  sulky  in 
i.oij.  Mr.  Rockefeller  sold  Maud  C.  to  Mr.  Rob- 
ert Bonner,  and  she  trotted  a  mile  for  her  new  owner 
in  2.07^,  the  fastest  mile  ever  made  on  a  three- 
quarter  track.  Mr.  Rockefeller  was  quite  enthusias- 
tic over  his  horses,  and  the  last  time  I  talked  with 
him  he  had  not  caught  the  automobile  fever. 

Round  Top  Farm  at  Bernardsville,  N.  J.,  is  the 
recreation  ground  of  one  of  our  large  financiers, 
Hon.  Fred.  P.  Olcott,  long  President  of  the  Central 
Trust  Co.  of  New  York.  The  first  stallion  that 
found  shelter  in  the  stables  was  Lord  Eldon  by 
Mansfield  (son  of  Green  Mountain  Maid),  dam 
Xantippe,  one  of  Mr.  Backman's  favorite  brood 
mares,  by  Rysdyk's  Hambletonian,  second  dam  Lady 
Fallis,  the  producing  daughter  of  Seely's  American 
Star.  The  second  stallion  purchased  by  Mr.  Olcott 

192 


E.    H.    HARRIMAN   AND    OTHER    BREEDERS 

was  Palatka  by  Nutwood,  dam  Atlanta  by  Alcan- 
tara, second  dam  Starling  by  George  Wilkes,  and 
third  dam  the  famous  Jessie  Pepper  by  Mambrino 
Chief.  These  are  great  blood  lines,  but  Palatka 
was  hardly  equal  to  his  opportunities.  Athel,  the 
brother  of  Arion,  who  sold  for  $125,000,  was  pur- 
chased by  Mr.  Olcott  for  $25,000,  and  he  is  a 
brown  stallion  of  high  quality.  The  fastest  of  his 
trotters  is  Bugle,  2.12^.  One  of  the  brood  mares  at 
Round  Top  Farm  is  Alar  by  Alcantara,  dam  Myra 
by  Knickerbocker,  second  dam  Thorndale  Maid,  the 
producing  daughter  of  Thorndale.  Mr.  Olcott  cam- 
paigned her  and  took  much  pleasure  in  watching  her 
resolute  finishes.  After  she  had  trotted  to  a  record 
of  2. 1 1  she  was  bred  to  Athel  and  the  result  was 
Emsie,  a  brown  filly  foaled  in  1900,  and  who  took 
a  standard  record  in  1904.  We  shall  see  more 
Round  Top  Farm  horses  enter  the  list  when  they 
are  given  a  good  chance  in  the  training  school.  Mr. 
Olcott  was  the  President  of  the  Road  Riders'  Asso- 
ciation of  New  York,  which  was  effective  in  shaping 
the  sentiment  which  secured  the  Harlem  River 
Speedway,  and  it  is  gratifying  to  find  him  among 
breeders  not  dead  to  sentiment.  He  gets  more  pleas- 
ure than  actual  money  out  of  his  farm. 

When  So  So,  driven  by  Crit  Davis,  trotted  at 
Lexington,  October  12,  1877,  to  a  two-year-old  record 
of  2.31,  she  was  hailed  as  a  wonder.  She  was  by 
George  Wilkes,  out  of  Little  Ida  by  Alexander's 
Edwin  Forrest,  she  out  of  Ida  May  by  Red  Jacket, 

193 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF    MEN   AND    HORSES 

and  was  owned  by  J.  T.  Shackelford  of  Richmond, 
Ky.  Colonel  H.  S.  Russell,  finding  that  I  was  on 
my  way  to  Kentucky,  asked  me  to  try  and  buy 
So  So  for  him,  and  I  opened  negotiations,  but  the 
price  was  more  than  I  was  willing  to  pay.  The 
daughter  of  Little  Ida  finally  trotted  to  a  record  of 
2.17^,  and  became  a  brood  mare  at  Midway  Park, 
the  breeding  farm  of  N.  W.  Kittson  at  St.  Paul, 
Minn.,  and  she  is  now  the  dam  of  five  in  the  list 
and  of  two  speed-begetting  sons.  The  most  famous 
horse  owned  by  Colonel  Russell  at  Home  Farm, 
Milton,  Mass.,  was  Smuggler,  who  defeated  Gold- 
smith Maid,  and  in  the  spring  of  1883  I  asked  the 
price  paid  for  the  stallion,  wishing  to  use  the  informa- 
tion in  a  sketch.  The  laconic  reply  was: 

"  I  am  just  back  from  California.  I  have  for- 
gotten what  I  gave  for  Smuggler,  but,  if  my  memory 
does  not  deceive  me,  it  was  just  about  half  what  he 
was  worth.  Pardon  me, 

"  Faithfully  yours, 

"  H.  S.  RUSSELL." 

In  the  fall  of  1889  Colonel  Russell  paid  another 
visit  to  California,  in  the  hope  of  finding  a  stallion 
to  suit  him,  but  was  disappointed.  He  stopped  at 
Lexington  on  his  way  back  to  Massachusetts,  and  was 
very  much  impressed  by  Edgemark,  who  had  just 
trotted  to  a  four-year-old  record  of  2.16.  Edge- 
mark  was  by  Victor  Von  Bismarck,  out  of  Edgewater 
Belle,  a  noble-looking  mare  by  Edgewater,  she  out 

194 


E.    H.    HARRIMAN   AND    OTHER    BREEDERS 

of  Easter  by  American  Clay,  and  Colonel  Russell 
bought  him  and  transferred  him  to  Home  Farm. 
Edgewater  Belle  soon  after  this  passed  to  Allen 
Farm.  June  15,  1891,  Colonel  Russell  wrote  to 
me: 

"  I  saw  and  admired  the  dam  of  Edgemark  be- 
fore buying  him;  but  hope  some  day  the  pleasure 
of  seeing  all  the  wonders  of  Allen  Farm.  It  is 
generally  best  to  let  well  enough  alone,  but,  if  a 
race  or  races  could  be  arranged  this  fall,  between 
Kremlin  and  Edgemark,  I  think  all  New  England 
would  turn  out.  If  both  horses  were  right,  they 
would  make  sport,  and  neither  would  be  disgraced 
at  being  beaten.  We  are  all  getting  old  and  ought 
to  catch  at  every  chance  for  fun." 

No  race  was  made,  and  Edgemark  did  not  im- 
prove his  record,  but  was  successful  in  the  stud.  His 
fastest  trotter  is  Miss  Whitney,  2.07^,  out  of  Net- 
tie T.,  a  daughter  of  Smuggler.  The  last  stallion 
purchased  by  Colonel  Russell  was  Answer,  2.20,  by 
Electioneer  out  of  Annette  by  Lexington.  Of  him  he 
wrote : 

"  He  won  the  only  two  races  he  ever  started 
in,  is  1 6  hands,  and  his  breeding  represents  the 
highest  point  arrived  at  by  Governor  Stanford,  and 
his  speed  endorses  the  Governor's  judgment." 

It  is  really  too  bad  that  men  of  the  type  of  Col- 
onel H.  S.  Russell  should  ever  feel  the  shadows  of 
age.  The  owner  of  Home  Farm  always  labored  to 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF    MEN   AND    HORSES 

advance  the  best  interests  of  the  trotting  turf,  and 
of  breeding.  He  died  in  February,  1905,  aged  67. 
His  son,  Howland  S.  Russell,  is  a  conspicuous  owner 
and  breeder  of  horses,  and,  as  President  of  the  New 
England  Trotting  Horse  Breeders'  Association,  was 
a  strong  factor  in  promoting  the  best  interests  of  the 
trotting  turf. 


196 


CHAPTER   XIX 

WILLIAM  EDWARDS  AND  DISCIPLINE 

IN  1885  Thos.  J.  Dunbar  was  training  and  driving 
for  W.  J.  Gordon,  and,  not  liking  a  decision  of  the 
Cleveland  Driving  Park  judges,  he  met  President 
Wm.  Edwards  outside  of  the  Park  grounds  and 
heaped  abuse  upon  him.  The  Association  then 
placed  Dunbar  under  expulsion,  and  a  case  was  made 
for  the  Board  of  Review  of  the  National  Trotting 
Association.  At  the  meeting,  held  in  New  York 
December  i,  1885,  Judge  James  Grant  in  the  chair, 
Hon.  H.  M.  Whitehead  appeared  for  the  Cleve- 
land Driving  Park  Company,  and  said  in  opposition 
to  the  motion  adjourning  the  hearing  to  Chicago: 
"  The  papers  that  are  on  file  in  this  case  show 
that  the  venomous  words  that  have  been  squirted  by 
Mr.  Dunbar  over  the  Cleveland  Park  Association 
and  over  the  President  of  the  course  have  penetrated 
with  their  odor  every  city  and  town  which  is  inter- 
ested in  the  turf,  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific 
Ocean.  The  newspapers  of  this  country  from  one 
end  of  it  to  the  other  have  discussed  the  question, 
and  have  stated  the  facts  with  more  or  less  exact- 
ness. It  would  seem  to  me  and  to  others  to  be  a 
case  demanding  the  immediate  attention  and  action 
of  this  Board,  as  in  its  character  it  tends  to  injure 

197 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF    MEN   AND    HORSES 

the  very  sport  which  this  Board  is  organized  to  pre- 
serve and  protect." 

Notwithstanding  the  forcible  words  of  Mr.  White- 
head,  President  Grant  announced  that  it  was  the 
unanimous  opinion  of  the  Board  that  the  hearing 
should  be  continued  to  the  Chicago  session.  Mr. 
Edwards  was  annoyed  by  this  decision,  and,  under 
date  of  December  30,  1885,  ^e  wrote  to  me: 

;<  While  heretofore  I  have  been  opposed  to  the 
proxy  business,  as  carried  on  in  the  past,  I  feel  now 
that  we  should  quietly  go  to  Chicago  with  all  the 
proxies  possible.  We  got  a  letter  a  few  days  ago 
from  Bemis,  asking  for  our  proxy,  which  shows  me 
he  will  make  every  effort  possible  to  control  the  nom- 
inations of  the  trotting  congress.  I  wrote  to 
Archer  and  Powers  to  get  all  possible  proxies,  and 
to  work  quietly.  I  have  had  Fasig  write  to  all  the 
associations  in  this  State,  that,  if  they  were  not  going 
to  attend  the  congress,  to  give  us  all  their  proxies. 
All  I  want  is  good,  straight,  honorable  men  elected. 
These  we  must  have,  or  go  to  the  wall.  You  can  see 
how  Dunbar  is  working  up  his  case,  while  we  have 
kept  entirely  still.  I  want  to  win,  as  I  believe  it 
just.  If  Dunbar  is  allowed  to  go  free,  it  will  hurt 
the  trotting  interests  with  respectable  men.  I  be- 
lieve the  Board  in  New  York  should  have  sustained 
the  expulsion." 

The  proceedings  of  the  trotting  congress  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1886,  at  Chicago,  were  stormy,  but  the  best 
elements  controlled,  and  the  rule  in  regard  to  de- 
corum was  made  to  fit  the  Dunbar  case.  Any  driver 
or  other  person  "  who  at  any  time  or  place  shall  use 

I98 


H.  M.  WHITEHEAD 


WM.    EDWARDS   AND   DISCIPLINE 

improper  language  to  an  officer  of  the  course,  or 
a  judge  of  a  race,"  such  u  improper  language  or 
conduct  having  reference  to  acts  and  things  connected 
with  the  administration  of  the  course,  or  of  any 
race  thereon,"  shall  be  punished  by  fine,  suspension, 
or  expulsion.  At  the  May  session  of  the  Board  of 
Review  the  Cleveland  ruling  was  sustained,  and 
President  Edwards  wrote  me: 

"  I  don't  think  the  decision  was  as  ample  as  it 
should  have  been.  It  should  have  been  left  to  us  to 
say  whether  we  would  receive  an  apology.  Dunbar's 
action  and  language  since  the  occurrence  should  have 
caused  him  some  delay  in  getting  back.  I  am  satis- 
fied that  he  fell  into  bad  hands  when  Walker  and 
Bemis  got  hold  of  him.  Now,  my  good  friend,  will 
you  write  in  your  powerful  way  a  strong  editorial 
on  the  subject?  You  know  how  it  has  been  claimed 
that  I  provoked  the  assault.  Now,  I  feel  as  though 
I  should  be  properly  vindicated,  not  as  one  to  perse- 
cute the  unfortunate.  Bemis  managed  Dunbar's 
case  before  the  Board,  prompting  the  lawyers.  He 
also  managed  his  own  case,  and  you  would  have 
pitied  him,  for,  I  can  assure  you,  his  appearance  was 
pitiable  in  every  way,  almost  committing  himself." 

I  had  charged  H.  V.  Bemis  with  starting  two 
horses  owned  by  him  in  one  race,  and  the  Board 
found  him  guilty.  Later  I  wrote  an  article,  point- 
ing out  that  the  trotting  track  would  pass  under  a 
cloud,  unless  decorum  was  maintained  on  it,  and 
Wm.  B.  Fasig,  who  was  then  Secretary  of  the  Cleve- 
land Driving  Park,  wrote  me  : 

199 


RECOLLECTIONS   OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

"  Let  me  congratulate  you  on  your  article  on 
Decorum.  It  is  the  very  best  thing  I  have  read; 
clear,  plain,  fair,  and  concise.  I  read  it  to  Mr. 
Gordon,  and  it  tickled  him  immensely.  He  pro- 
nounced it  the  '  best  said '  article  he  had  seen  in  a 
long  time." 

At  the  October,  1905,  meeting  of  the  Kentucky 
Trotting  Horse  Breeders'  Association  I  met  Thos. 
J.  Dunbar,  and  his  greeting  was  as  pleasant  as  in 
the  days  before  I  felt  it  my  duty  to  take  sides  against 
him.  The  Cleveland  lesson  did  him  good,  and  he 
bears  no  grudges.  He  no  longer  drives  horses  in 
races,  but  takes  pleasure  in  watching  the  efforts  of 
younger  men  in  the  sulky. 

In  June,  1891,  Wm.  Edwards  told  me,  in  a  long 
letter,  of  a  fast  trial  trotted  by  Guy,  and  added: 

"  I  do  not  know  if  Mr.  Gordon's  health  will  give 
him  the  energy  to  take  Guy  in  hand  and  let  someone 
have  him  that  has  had  great  experience  in  condi- 
tioning horses  for  an  effort  to  beat  the  record,  but, 
as  I  have  said  before,  I  honestly  believe  the  black 
gelding  can  do  it.  I  have  always  felt  that  it  was 
cruel  that  Maud  S.  was  not  allowed  to  have  a  fur- 
ther trial  to  beat  the  present  record.  As  I  wrote 
you  and  Mr.  Bonner  many  times,  I  believe  she  could 
have  trotted  in  2.07  or  2.07^,  and  I  was  much 
pleased,  in  talking  with  Geo.  W.  Archer,  to  find 
that  he  held  the  same  opinion." 

Guy,  2.09!,  by  Kentucky  Prince,  out  of  Flora 
Gardiner  by  Seely's  American  Star,  was  the  fastest 
trotter  ever  bred  at  Stony  Ford  by  Chas.  Backman. 

200 


CHAPTER    XX 

S.   S.    ROWLAND  AS  A  BREEDER 

IN  August,  1889,  I  received  a  letter  from  Mr.  S.  S. 
Rowland,  whose  country  home,  Belwood,  was  at 
Mt.  Morris,  Livingston  County,  N.  Y. : 

"  This  section  of  the  country,  the  Genesee  Valley, 
unable  to  compete  with  the  West  in  wheat,  is  trying 
to  recover  its  old  reputation  of  producing  the  best 
general-purpose  horses  of  New  York.  We  have  the 
best  of  pasturage,  good  water,  a  species  of  Blue  Grass, 
and  mild  winters.  Horses  are  permitted  to  run  out 
all  the  year  round  with  simply  a  shed  or  often  only 
a  straw  stack  to  shelter  them.  Within  a  radius  of 
twenty-five  miles  over  thirty  stallions  of  every  sort 
are  standing.  On  a  low  calculation,  900  colts  are 
bred  annually,  good,  bad  and  indifferent.  The  na- 
tive mares  are  of  fair  quality,  having  in  the  past 
been  carefully  looked  after,  but  through  breeding  to 
small  trotting  stallions,  many  have  bred  small.  The 
farmer  finds  horse-raising  even  now  profitable,  but 
what  to  breed  to  is  the  great  question." 

I  was  asked  for  an  opinion  and  gave  it,  and  in  a 
second  letter  Mr.  Howland  wrote: 

"  There  is  the  most  perfect  and  delightful  igno- 
rance existing  as  a  rule  among  the  farming  community 
as  to  what  to  breed  for  and  how  to  get  it.  The 

20 1 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

farmers  don't  want  to  wait  for  experiments,  but  run 
like  sheep  after  this  or  that  horse  that  Tom  Smith 
or  Billy  Brown  has  got  a  colt  from  that  either  turned 
out  a  trotter  or  brought  a  good  figure.  Regarding 
the  experiment  of  crossing  half-bred  Percheron  mares 
to  thoroughbreds,  Pierre  Lorillard  told  me  he  tried 
it  over  and  over  again,  and  recrossed  the  get,  but 
never  got  a  horse  worth  anything.  The  French 
coachers  I  find  do  not  breed  true,  and  the  nearest 
approach  to  a  first-class  carriage  and  farm  horse  sire 
I  have  seen  (and  I  have  tried  to  look  carefully  into 
the  matter  here  and  in  England  and  Europe)  is  the 
Russian  trotter.  They  combine  size,  color,  bone 
(and  real  bone),  endurance  and  speed,  as  well  as  ac- 
tion. They  have  never,  I  believe,  been  tried  as  a 
cross  with  our  native  trotting-bred  (poor  quality) 
mares,  but  I  feel  sure  that  the  result  will  be  a  good 
one.  I  have  spent  three  years  among  Arabs,  and 
do  not  believe  in  them  much  more  than  you  do.  I 
think  that  with  half-bred  Percheron  mares  they  might 
produce  good  colts,  but  don't  care  to  experiment 
myself.  There  is  no  better  stallion,  of  course,  than 
a  horse  like  Mambrino  King  or  Chimes,  but  such 
horses  cannot  be  put  within  the  reach  of  the  working 
classes." 

In  August,  1890,  I  went  to  Belwood,  and  was 
charmed  with  the  place  and  the  surrounding  country. 
One  of  the  Belwood  stallions  was  Leopard,  a  gray  of 
fifteen  hands,  presented  to  General  U.  S.  Grant  by 
the  Sultan  of  Turkey.  "  What  is  the  Arab  horse?  " 
asks  Mr.  Rowland  in  a  circular  which  I  have 
preserved.  "  He  is  the  strongest  and  purest,  the 
oldest  and  best-blooded  animal  in  the  world.  On 

202 


S.   S.   ROWLAND   AS  A  BREEDER 

the  monuments  of  Egypt  and  Greece,  many  of  them 
built  thousands  of  years  before  Christ,  we  find  the 
same  beautiful  head  and  neck,  the  same  deer-like 
limbs  portrayed.  Every  known  breed  of  horses 
traces  directly  or  indirectly  to  the  Arabian.  The 
Thoroughbred,  the  Hackney,  the  Cleveland  Bay,  the 
Percheron,  the  Clydesdale,  and  the  French  Coacher, 
all  have  the  Arab  cross.  All  breeds  of  horses  re- 
quire, from  time  to  time,  a  new  infusion  of  thorough- 
bred blood,  or  they  degenerate  into  worthlessness. 
The  strongest,  the  purest  blood  is  Arabian." 

As  the  law  of  reversion  to  type  is  universal,  why 
should  not  a  horse  built  up  from  the  Arab  revert, 
when  left  to  himself,  to  the  rather  diminutive  form 
of  the  Arab  with  his  sprawling  action?  Leave  the 
magnificent  rose  of  the  garden  alone  and  the  result 
will  be  a  drift  backward  to  the  dogrose  of  the  hedge. 
Life  is  affected  by  change  in  environment,  and  proba- 
bly the  environment  of  Europe  and  America  does 
not  respond  as  favorably  to  the  external  relations 
of  the  Arab  horse  as  does  Arabia  or  Turkey.  Cer- 
tainly Leopard  did  not  rise  to  the  expectations  of 
those  who  bred  to  him  at  Belwood  or  elsewhere  in 
this  country.  But  seeing  Leopard  standing  with 
Mr.  Rowland  in  the  shade  of  an  oak  was  a  picture 
not  readily  forgotten.  He  who  loves  a  tree  in  the 
landscape  loves  the  horse  that  seeks  its  shade,  and  the 
trinity  is  complete  when  a  handsome  woman  sits  on 
the  back  of  the  horse.  Three  grades  of  develop- 

203 


RECOLLECTIONS   OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

ment  were  typified  by  the  Belwood  group,  and  I  recall 
the  graceful  words  of  Henry  Drummond: 

"  At  the  bottom  of  the  biological  scale  we  find 
organisms  which  have  only  the  most  limited  corre- 
spondence with  their  surroundings.  A  tree,  for  ex- 
ample, corresponds  with  the  soil  about  its  stem,  with 
the  sunlight,  and  with  the  air  in  contact  with  its 
leaves.  But  it  is  shut  off  by  its  comparatively  low 
development  from  a  whole  world  to  which  higher 
forms  of  life  have  additional  access.  The  want  of 
locomotion  alone  circumscribes  most  seriously  its  area 
of  correspondence,  so  that  to  a  large  part  of  sur- 
rounding nature  it  may  be  truly  said  to  be  dead.  So 
far  as  consciousness  is  concerned,  we  should  be  justi- 
fied indeed  in  saying  that  it  is  not  alive  at  all.  The 
murmur  of  the  stream  which  bathes  its  roots  affects 
it  not  The  marvelous  insect  life  beneath  its  shadow 
excites  in  it  no  wonder.  The  tender  maternity  of 
the  bird  which  has  its  nest  among  its  leaves  stirs  no 
responsive  sympathy.  It  cannot  correspond  with 
these  things.  To  stream  and  insect  and  bird  it  is 
insensible,  torpid,  dead.  For  this  is  Death,  this  ir- 
responsiveness.  The  bird  again,  which  is  higher  in 
the  scale  of  life,  corresponds  with  a  wider  environ- 
ment. The  stream  is  real  to  it  and  the  insect.  It 
knows  what  lies  behind  the  hill ;  it  listens  to  the  love- 
song  of  its  mate.  And  to  much  besides  beyond  the 
simple  world  of  the  tree,  this  higher  organism  is 
alive.  The  bird  we  should  say,  is  more  living  than 
the  tree;  it  has  a  correspondence  with  a  larger  area 
of  environment.  But  this  bird  life  is  not  yet  the 
highest  life.  Even  within  the  immediate  bird  en- 
vironment, there  is  much  to  which  the  bird  must  still 
be  held  to  be  dead.  Introduce  a  higher  organism, 

204 


S.   S.   ROWLAND  AS  A  BREEDER 

place  man  himself  within  this  same  environment,  and 
see  how  much  more  living  he  is.  A  hundred  things 
which  the  bird  never  saw  in  insect,  stream,  or  tree 
appeal  to  him.  Each  single  sense  has  something  to 
correspond  with.  Each  faculty  finds  an  appropriate 
exercise.  Man  is  a  mass  of  correspondences,  and  be- 
cause of  these,  because  he  is  alive  to  countless  objects 
and  influences  to  which  lower  organisms  are  dead, 
he  is  the  most  living  of  all  creatures." 

At  the  base  of  the  stone  and  the  plant  are  the  same 
atoms,  but  the  plant  has  more  of  what  we  call  life 
than  the  stone.  The  natural  ascent  is  from  crystal 
to  plant,  from  plant  to  animal,  and  the  summit  is 
the  spiritual  life  of  man. 

The  Russian  trotting  stallion  at  Belwood  was  a 
black  horse  of  sixteen  hands  called  Orloff,  bred  by 
Nicholas  Alexandrovitch  Konoplin  of  Siliverstovka, 
Russia,  and  imported  by  Count  Greger,  Consul-Gen- 
eral of  Russia.  In  his  leaflet  Mr.  Howland  said: 

"  Though  not  considered  as  fast  as  the  American 
trotter,  the  Orloffs  are  far  superior  to  anything  pro- 
duced in  Europe,  and  for  long-distance  races,  many 
contend,  to  our  own." 

Since  1890  a  great  many  good  trotting  stallions 
and  mares  have  been  shipped  across  the  Atlantic  to 
Europe,  and  from  them  trotters  are  being  bred  with 
which  the  Russian  horses  cannot  successfully  com- 
pete. In  July,  1876,  I  published  an  offer  of  $10,000 
in  gold  for  an  international  stallion  trot  at  Philadel- 
phia in  October,  1876,  and  I  entered  into  corre- 

205 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

spondence  with  Mr.  Moerder,  the  Secretary  of  the 
General  Directory  of  the  Imperial  Studs  of  Russia, 
relative  to  obtaining  Orloff  entries.  Mr.  Moerder 
was  in  sympathy  with  the  offer,  but  the  breeders  of 
his  country  were  not  ready  for  the  test.  The  stipu- 
lation was  that  two  horses  from  Russia  should  enter 
and  start.  Capt.  Theo.  Ismailoff  came  twice  to  this 
country  with  the  pick  of  Orloff  studs,  the  last  time  in 
1893,  but  failed  to  make  a  favorable  impression. 
Leland  Stanford  and  W.  E.  D.  Stokes  also  labored 
without  effect  to  make  the  Orloff  popular  in  America. 
The  Russian  trotter  was  not  able  to  make  our  best 
trotters  extend  themselves.  It  was  Count  Alexis 
Orloff-Tchestmensky  who  created  the  Orloff  breed. 
He  bred  a  large-boned  Danish  mare  to  the  pure 
Arabian  stallion,  Smetanka,  and  produced  Polkan 
ist,  a  horse  of  larger  frame  than  his  sire.  A  mus- 
cular Dutch  mare  was  bred  to  Polkan  ist,  and  the 
product  was  Barss  ist,  a  horse  with  stout  muscles 
and  fine  trotting  action.  English  and  Arabian  blood 
were  now  introduced,  and  in  this  way  Dobry,  Lu- 
benzy,  and  Lebed  were  produced,  from  which  three 
the  best  Orloffs  are  descended.  The  first  time  that 
Captain  Ismailoff  came  to  this  country,  I  really  felt 
sorry  for  him.  His  horses  showed  so  poorly  on  the 
tracks  as  to  excite  ridicule.  Mr.  Howland  was  wise 
in  recommending  his  Orloff  stallion  only  to  those 
desirous  of  raising  carriage  and  farm  horses. 


206 


CHAPTER  XXI 

SIMMONS,    STONER,    AND    THAYER 

ZACHARIA  E.  SIMMONS  had  in  his  younger  days  a 
fine  athletic  figure  and  his  intellect  was  keen.  He 
made  money  rapidly  and  spent  it  lavishly,  and  was 
quite  a  lion  among  those  who  frequented  the  Hoff- 
man House.  He  drove  the  best  horses  on  the  road 
and  stood  ready  to  match  his  horses  on  the  track. 
To  lose  did  not  ruffle  his  temper,  and  to  win  did  not 
make  him  boastful.  He  and  his  brother,  Wm.  L. 
Simmons,  owned  and  raced  the  stallion  George 
Wilkes,  and  then  sent  him  to  Kentucky,  where  he 
found  blood  lines  to  suit  him  and  founded  a  great 
family  of  trotters.  The  brothers  disagreed  and 
Geo.  Wilkes  passed  to  Wm.  L.  Simmons,  and  was 
at  the  head  of  Ashgrove  Stock  Farm,  near  Lexing- 
ton. His  three  sons,  Jay  Bird,  William  L.  and 
Young  Jim,  helped  to  make  the  Ashgrove  group 
prominent,  and  so  many  visitors  flocked  to  the  farm 
that  William  L.  Simmons  gave  his  address  in  his 
catalogue  as  George  Wilkes  Simmons,  Lexington. 
In  the  flush  days  of  Kentucky  breeding  money  was 
coined  at  Ashgrove  Farm,  and  Wm.  L.  Simmons 
became  so  wedded  to  Blue  Grass  that  he  could  not 
be  persuaded  to  visit  New  York  City,  where  his  well- 

207 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF    MEN   AND    HORSES 

dressed  form  once  was  conspicuous  in  the  Broadway 
promenade.  When  the  depression  came,  Wm.  L. 
Simmons  closed  out  his  trotting  breeding  establish- 
ment and  turned  his  attention  to  the  rearing  and 
racing  of  thoroughbreds.  I  have  never  believed 
that  he  felt  thoroughly  at  home  on  running  tracks. 
Z.  E.  Simmons,  after  separating  from  his  brother, 
established  near  Lexington,  Wilkes  Lodge  Farm, 
with  Florida,  the  inbred  son  of  Hambletonian,  as  his 
premier  stallion.  His  good  luck  star  had  vanished, 
and  the  establishment  never  obtained  prominence. 
The  hair  turned  snow-white,  the  straight  and  ath- 
letic figure  was  bent,  and  a  dollar  was  made  to  go 
further  than  a  thousand  did  in  halcyon  days.  Z.  E. 
Simmons  had  experience  with  the  extremes  of  life, 
and  passed  away  without  wishing  to  extend  his  ex- 
perience. The  friends  of  the  trotting  horse  who 
have  good  memories  will  thank  him  for  what  he  did 
when  trotting  was  weak  and  badly  disorganized.  H. 
M.  Whitehead,  who  was  the  legal  adviser  of  Mr. 
Simmons,  tells  how  he  has  seen  his  client  exclude 
bills  of  larger  denomination  than  $10  from  his  pocket, 
previous  to  starting  for  a  stroll  up  Broadway. 
Eph.  Simmons  was  well  known,  and  so  many  suppli- 
cating hands  halted  the  promenade,  none  of  which 
was  denied,  that  small  bills  became  necessary. 

Colonel  Robert  G.  Stoner  was  born  on  his  father's 
farm,  seven  miles  from  Mt.  Sterling,  Ky.,  and,  at 
the  age  of  twenty-one,  he  entered  the  Confederate 
Army.  At  the  close  of  the  Civil  War  he  began 

208 


SIMMONS,    STONER,   AND   THAYER 

his  career  as  farmer  and  breeder  of  trotting  horses, 
removing  from  Mt.  Sterling  to  Bourbon  County, 
Ky.,  where  he  was  remarkably  successful.  In  1873 
he  purchased  Strathmore  and  used  him  to  good  ad- 
vantage in  the  stud.  The  best  entire  son  of  Strath- 
more  is  Santa  Claus,  2.17^,  sire  of  Wm.  Penn, 
2.O7J,  and  of  Sidney,  sire  of  Sidney  Dillon,  the 
sire  of  Dolly  Dillon  and  Lou  Dillon.  The  latter 
was  the  champion  trotter  of  1903.  In  1876  and 
in  1883  Colonel  Stoner  held  what  might  be  called 
weeding-out  sales,  progress  being  his  watchword,  and, 
in  his  catalogue  of  1889,  ne  was  a^^e  to  sav: 


"  Not  one  of  the  fifty-five  animals  in  my  stud  is 
by  a  horse  that  has  failed  to  trot  fast  himself,  or  sire 
speed." 

The  stallions  were  Baron  Wilkes,  whose  fee  was 
$350,  and  Mambrino  Russell.  The  latter  was  a 
chestnut  horse  of  16.1  hands,  by  Woodford  Mam- 
brino, 2.21^,  out  of  Miss  Russell,  the  dam  of  Maud 
S.  and  Nutwood.  This  horse  was  formerly  owned 
by  Mr.  Paul  Dana  of  New  York,  who  purchased 
him  at  Woodburn  on  account  of  his  rare  combina- 
tion of  blood.  His  success  in  the  stud  was  not  as 
pronounced  as  had  been  anticipated.  The  tendency 
to  pace  which  he  transmitted  evidently  came  from 
Pilot  Jr.,  the  sire  of  his  dam,  and  this  pacing  ten- 
dency seemed  to  grow  with  the  generations.  Evolu- 
tion presents  some  curious  phases,  and  Herbert 
Spencer  was  moved  to  remark  : 

209 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

"  The  law  that  each  creature  shall  take  the  bene- 
fits and  the  evils  of  its  nature,  be  they  those  derived 
from  ancestry  or  those  due  to  self-produced  modi- 
fications, has  been  the  law  under  which  life  has 
evolved  thus  far,  and  it  must  continue  to  be  the 
law,  however  much  further  life  may  evolve." 

At  Woodburn,  and  in  the  hands  of  Mr.  Dana, 
Mambrino  Russell  was  well  nourished,  and  his 
growth  was  rapid.  I  sometimes  doubt  if  overgrowth 
does  not  warp  the  lines  which  give  speed  of  the 
sturdy  stamp.  Again  I  quote  Spencer : 

:<  The  welfare  of  a  living  body  implies  an  approxi- 
mate equilibrium  between  waste  and  repair.  If  the 
activities  involve  an  expenditure  not  made  good  by 
nutrition,  dwindling  follows.  If  the  tissues  are 
enabled  to  take  up  from  the  blood,  enriched  by  food, 
fit  substances  enough  to  replace  those  used  up  in 
efforts  made,  the  weight  may  be  maintained.  And 
if  the  gain  exceeds  the  loss,  growth  results." 

Mambrino  Russell  was  naturally  fast,  but  an  in- 
jury to  his  ankle  when  young  prevented  him  from 
taking  a  record.  If  this  injury  had  not  occurred, 
Mr.  Dana  would  have  campaigned  him.  It  was  his 
ambition  to  own  and  develop  a  fast  trotter. 

Baron  Wilkes  was  bred  by  Bryan  Hurst  of  Fay- 
ette  County,  Ky.,  and  his  blood  lines  appealed 
strongly  to  Colonel  Stoner.  He  was  foaled  May  5, 
1882,  and  his  sire  was  Geo.  Wilkes,  and  his  dam 
was  Belle  Patchen  by  Mambrino  Patchen,  second 
dam  Sally  Chorister  (dam  of  Proteine,  2.18,  and 

210 


SIMMONS,    STONER,   AND   THAYER 

Belle  Brasfield,  2.20),  by  Mambrino  Chorister  (son 
of  Mambrino  Chief  and  Montague,  mare  by  Chor- 
ister by  imp.  Contract)  ;  third  dam  Miss  Blood,  by 
Blood's  Black  Hawk,  by  Hill's  Black  Hawk,  sire 
of  Ethan  Allen,  and  fourth  dam  the  Parker  Craig 
mare  by  Moore's  Pilot,  by  Sam  Slick  by  Old  Pilot, 
sire  of  Pilot  Jr.  In  1886  Colonel  Stoner  described 
Baron  Wilkes  as  "  a  young  horse  of  nice  action — 
the  action  of  a  trotter,  clean,  frictionless,  and  low." 
The  first  time  I  saw  the  young  stallion  race  was  in 
1887,  and,  looking  down  upon  him  from  the  judges' 
stand,  I  was  impressed  by  his  low  carriage.  He 
was  a  brown  of  15.2,  with  stripe  in  face,  and  was 
easily  distinguished  in  a  large  field.  It  was  in  Octo- 
ber, 1888,  that  he  won  the  2.25  stallion  stake  at 
Lexington  in  the  fifth,  sixth,  and  seventh  heats,  and 
thus  demonstrated  the  gameness  of  his  maternal 
ancestors,  backed  by  the  blood  of  American  Eclipse, 
Contract,  and  Medley.  The  time  of  the  seventh 
heat  of  the  stubbornly  fought  race  was  2.i8J.  A 
few  weeks  after  this  contest  Baron  Wilkes  was 
matched  against  Bermuda  and  Hinder  Wilkes,  and 
won  in  2.2of,  2.i8f,  2.18. 

Among  the  mares  which  Colonel  Stoner  selected 
to  breed  to  Baron  Wilkes  and  Mambrino  Russell 
were  Alacrity  by  Harold,  out  of  Juliet  (dam  of 
Mambrino  Pilot)  by  Pilot  Jr.;  Almeta  by  Almont, 
out  of  Alma  Mater;  Annie  Bell  by  Nutwood,  out 
of  Lucia  (dam  of  Day  Dream,  2.2if )  by  Rysdyk's 
Hambletonian ;  Cranston  Bells  by  Rhode  Island,  out 

211 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

of  Belle  Brandon,  dam  of  Amy,  2.2oJ,  and  Gov- 
ernor Sprague,  2.20^;  Elfie  by  Enfield,  out  of  Heel- 
and-Toe  Fanny,  dam  of  Jewett,  2.20;  Mary  A. 
Whitney  by  Volunteer,  out  of  Peggy  Slender,  dam 
of  William  H.  Allen,  2.23^,  and  Odd  Stocking  by 
Happy  Medium,  out  of  County  House  Mare  (dam 
of  Nettie,  2.18)  by  Seely's  American  Star.  He  ad- 
hered as  closely  as  circumstances  would  permit  to 
producing  and  performing  lines,  and  thus  achieved 
success. 

An  offer  of  $25,000  tempted  Colonel  Stoner, 
and,  at  this  figure,  Baron  Wilkes  passed  to  Ma- 
plehurst  Farm  in  Massachusetts,  where  he  con- 
tinued to  sire  a  high  rate  of  speed.  His  blood  breeds 
on  through  his  sons  and  daughters.  Colonel  R.  G. 
Stoner  died  at  his  breeding  farm,  Oakland,  in  1898, 
and  in  February,  1899,  n^s  select  stud  was  dispersed 
under  the  hammer.  The  star  of  the  collection  was 
Oakland  Baron,  a  brown  horse  of  16  hands,  foaled 
in  1892,  and  by  Baron  Wilkes,  out  of  Lady  Mackay 
by  Silver  Threads,  the  producing  daughter  of  The 
Moor;  second  dam  Fleetwing  (dam  of  Stamboul, 
2.07^)  by  Rysdyk's  Hambletonian.  Oakland  Baron 
began  trotting  as  a  two-year-old,  and  in  1897,  when 
five  years  old,  was  a  whirlwind  of  speed,  retiring 
with  a  record  of  2.09^.  He  is  now  owned  at  Hud- 
son River  Stock  Farm  by  Jacob  Ruppert,  and  is  a 
sire  of  extreme  speed.  Colonel  Stoner  was  a  high- 
spirited  man,  who  chafed  under  restraint,  but  his 
judgment  as  a  breeder  was  excellent,  and  his  achieve^ 

212 


JOHN  E.  THAYER 


SIMMONS,    STONER,   AND   THAYER 

ments  at  Oakland  extended  the  fame  of  Kentucky 
as  a  trotting-horse  producing  State. 

I  remember  a  breakfast  at  Maplehurst  Farm, 
Lancaster,  Mass.,  which  was  pleasant.  I  had  taken 
an  early  train  from  Boston  with  Mr.  Albert  C. 
Hall,  and  had  a  good  appetite  when  we  passed 
from  the  drawing-room  to  the  cheerful  breakfast- 
room.  Colonel  John  E.  Thayer  is  one  of  the  leading 
citizens  of  New  England,  and  at  Lancaster  he  has 
surrounded  himself  with  all  the  evidences  of  culture. 
The  welcome  of  Mrs.  Thayer,  an  accomplished 
woman,  was  as  cordial  as  that  of  her  husband,  and, 
if  she  was  not  interested  in  the  talk  about  horses, 
she  had  the  tact  to  conceal  her  feelings.  John  E. 
Thayer  was  born  in  1862,  and  spent  most  of  his 
time  on  the  large  farm  at  Lancaster  until  he  went 
to  college.  I  quote  from  a  letter  written  to  me  in 
1896: 

"  I  was  always  fond  of  animals,  especially  dogs 
and  horses.  I  formed  the  Hillside  Kennels  in  1881 
with  my  twin  brother.  They  soon  became  well 
known,  as  we  won  prizes  all  over  the  country.  After 
graduating  from  Harvard  in  1885,  I  Sot  more  and 
more  interested  in  horses.  The  first  trotter  I  owned 
was  Delightful,  2.33,  by  Daniel  Lambert,  dam  by 
imp.  Consternation,  but  the  one  that  was  responsible 
for  my  great  interest  in  trotting  was  the  little  roan 
mare,  Dusty  Miller.  I  first  saw  her  at  a  county  fair, 
and  fell  in  love  with  her,  and  bought  her  on  the  spot. 
She  won  a  lot  of  races  for  me,  was  second  in  a  Grand 
Circuit  meeting  at  Springfield,  and  ended  her  career 

213 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

on  the  turf  with  a  record  of  2.2oJ.  I  bred  her  to 
Alcantara  and  she  produced  the  roan  colt  Moth 
Miller,  that  has  taken  a  two-year-old  mark  this  sea- 
son of  2.2i|.  I  began  to  increase  my  brood  mares, 
and  then  found  that  it  was  necessary  to  buy  a  stal- 
lion. I  went  on  a  quiet  hunt,  and  finally  decided 
on  Ralph  Wilkes.  I  was  determined  to  get  a  first- 
class  horse  or  none  at  all." 


Ralph  Wilkes  was  a  chestnut  horse,  foaled 
in  1889  by  Red  Wilkes  (son  of  George  Wilkes), 
dam  Mary  Mays  by  Mambrino  Patchen;  sec- 
ond dam  by  imp.  Sarpedon,  and  in  1891,  as 
a  two-year-old,  he  trotted  to  a  record  of  2.18. 
In  1894  Colonel  John  E.  Thayer  and  his  twin 
brother,  Bayard,  went  to  the  October  meeting 
at  Lexington  buoyed  up  with  hope.  Ralph  Wilkes, 
who  was  in  the  training  stable  of  James  Golden,  had 
shown  so  much  speed  that  his  owners  were  sure  of 
decided  victories  in  the  land  of  Blue  Grass.  The 
two  brothers  sat  well  back  in  the  grand  stand,  where 
the  October  sunshine  streamed  upon  them  and  re- 
vealed the  changing  expressions  of  their  faces,  and 
I  shall  never  forget  the  deepening  shadow  of  disap- 
pointment when  the  nervous  chestnut  stallion  became 
rattled,  through  prolonged  scoring,  and  was  dis- 
gracefully beaten.  The  Messrs.  Thayer  took  an 
early  train  for  Boston,  while  Golden  went  to  Nash- 
ville with  the  stallion.  The  official  timers  at 
Nashville,  when  Ralph  Wilkes  started  against  the 
watch  for  a  fast  record,  were  Wm.  Russell  Allen 

214 


SIMMONS,    STONER,   AND   THAYER 

and  myself.  The  horse  was  in  cheerful  mood,  and 
had  perfect  control  of  himself.  Golden  rated  him 
well,  and,  when  his  nose  reached  the  wire,  we  struck 
the  plunges,  and  Mr.  Allen  handed  me  his  watch, 
while  I  passed  mine  to  him.  Both  registered  2.o6f , 
and  there  were  cheers  when  the  official  time  was  an- 
nounced. It  was  one  second  faster  than  the  record 
of  Kremlin  on  the  same  track  in  the  autumn  of  1892, 
and  Mr.  Allen's  only  remark  was :  "  Well,  that 
makes  Ralph  Wilkes  the  fastest  stallion  in  New  Eng- 
land." Up  to  that  hour  Kremlin  had  held  the  record 
for  New  England  stallions,  and  it  was  the  watch  of 
the  owner  of  Kremlin  which  had  certified  the  ad- 
vancement of  Ralph  Wilkes.  Golden  went  home 
with  flying  colors,  but  Ralph  Wilkes  caught  cold 
and  died  during  the  winter,  and  there  was  a  vacant 
stall  at  Maplehurst.  Under  date  of  November  3, 
1895,  Colonel  Thayer  wrote  me: 

"  I  have  just  bought  the  great  stallion,  Baron 
Wilkes,  and  will  immediately  put  him  at  the  head 
of  my  stud.  He  will  mate  well  with  New  England 
mares,  and,  I  hope,  will  produce  some  more  Ruben- 
steins,  2.06^,  whose  dam,  as  you  know,  was  by 
Aristos." 

Baron  Wilkes  was  foaled  in  1882.  He  was  thir- 
teen years  old,  and  the  market  was  very  much  de- 
pressed when  Colonel  Thayer  paid  $25,000  for  him. 
In  the  boom  days  of  the  trotting-horse  industry  he 
would  have  sold  for  three  times  this  amount.  His 

**$ 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

second  dam,  Sally  Chorister,  was  the  dam  of  Proteine, 
2.18,  and  Belle  Brasfield,  2.20.  As  I  had  seen  Proteine 
and  Belle  Brasfield  trot  in  hard-contested  races,  when 
2. 20  was  a  high  measure  of  speed,  I  was  much  inter- 
ested the  first  time  I  saw  Baron  Wilkes.  The  pre- 
potency of  his  blood  asserted  itself  in  the  stud. 
Inheriting  speed  from  speed-producing  lines,  Baron 
Wilkes  has  transmitted  speed  with  remarkable  power. 
At  the  close  of  the  campaign  of  1904  there  were 
124  sons  and  daughters  of  Baron  Wilkes  with 
standard  records.  The  three  fastest  of  these  were 
pacers — Bumps,  2.03^;  Rubenstein,  2.05,  and  Rachel, 
2.o8J.  The  trotters  with  records  of  2.10  and  better 
were  Dulce  Cor,  2.o8£;  Baron  Bell,  2.09;  Oakland 
Baron,  2.09^;  Baron  Rogers,  2.09!;  Baron  D., 
2.10,  and  Red  Silk,  2.10.  The  sons  of  Baron 
Wilkes  which  have  produced  2.10  speed  are  Oak- 
land Baron,  Baron  Dillon,  Baron  Rogers,  Moko, 
and  Prince  of  India.  Baron  Wilkes  now  (1907) 
has  105  trotters  and  28  pacers  with  standard  records. 


216 


CHAPTER  XXII 

MARSHLAND  AND  SHULTSHURST 

IT  was  half-past  four  o'clock  in  the  morning  when 
I  stepped  from  the  train  over  the  Erie  Railroad,  and 
walked  under  the  maples  to  the  hotel  in  Owego. 
The  stillness,  the  sweetness,  and  the  freshness  of  the 
summer  morning  well  repaid  me  for  early  rising,  and 
at  six  o'clock  General  Benj.  F.  Tracy  met  me  and 
drove  me  to  Marshland,  where,  having  the  appe- 
tite of  the  strenuous  cowboy  of  the  plains,  I  did 
justice  to  breakfast.  Owego  cannot  be  called  a  lively 
place,  but  it  sent  into  the  world  men  who  quickened 
the  pulse  of  the  nation.  Senator  Thos.  C.  Platt, 
the  Moores,  J.  Hobart  and  William ;  the  Rockefel- 
lers, John  D.,  William,  and  Frank,  and  B.  F.  Tracy 
were  boys  there  at  the  same  time,  and  all  at  the  foot 
of  the  industrial  ladder.  I  recall  an  evening  at 
Woodburn  when  Frank  Rockefeller  told  Lucas  Brod- 
head,  W.  R.  Allen,  and  myself  of  the  strict  discip- 
line of  his  childhood  home  at  Owego: 

"  Mother  made  us  three  boys  go  to  bed  early,  and 
John  D.  and  William  stood  in  checked  aprons  at  the 
supper-table,  with  me,  and  ate  a  bowl  of  porridge 
before  crawling  between  sheets.  She  was  one  of  the 
best  of  women,  and  her  discipline  prepared  us  to 
wrestle  with  the  serious  problems  of  life." 

217 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

Each  member  of  the  distinguished  group,  with 
the  exception  of  Senator  Platt,  developed  a  love  for 
the  trotting  horse.  Was  the  fever  in  the  atmosphere  ? 

After  breakfast  we  made  the  rounds  of  the  pad- 
docks and  the  stables  at  Marshland,  and  then  the 
young  horses  in  the  training  school  of  Charles  P. 
Doble  were  harnessed  and  speeded  on  the  track.  In 
his  enthusiasm  General  Tracy  removed  his  coat  and 
stood  in  his  shirt  sleeves  in  the  little  observation 
stand,  with  timing  watch  in  hand,  and  gave  orders 
in  positive  tones.  On  such  occasions  he  was  a  man 
of  few  words,  but  each  word  was  directly  to  the 
point.  After  dinner,  on  the  moon-lighted  porch,  the 
laws  of  breeding  were  discussed,  and,  as  General 
Tracy  had  been  a  close  student  of  the  subject  and 
has  an  intensely  logical  mind,  his  words  carry  con- 
viction. 

In  the  early  days  of  Marshland  Peacemaker  by 
Rysdyk's  Hambletonian,  dam  Sally  Feagles  by 
Smith's  Clay,  spent  three  years  at  the  Farm,  and  one 
of  the  colts  sired  by  him  there  was  Alroy,  who  won 
three  three-year-old  races  in  1882.  General  Tracy 
was  on  the  bench  of  the  Court  of  Appeals  at  Albany, 
when  a  telegram  was  received  by  him  and  answered 
concerning  the  race  at  Fleetwood  Park.  Echoes  of 
the  contest,  which  tested  breeding  theories,  were  thus 
heard  in  a  grave  judicial  chamber.  Oxmoor,  Ken- 
tucky Wilkes,  and  Mambrino  Dudley  were  other 
conspicuous  stallions  at  Marshland.  The  first  named 
developed  a  tumor,  and  was  destroyed,  and  the  sec- 

218 


BENJAMIN  F.  TRACY 


MARSHLAND   AND   SHULTSHURST 

ond  named  fought  his  races  with  such  gameness  as 
to  bring  a  flush  of  pride  to  the  cheeks  of  his  owner. 
Kentucky  Wilkes  was  purchased  in  1884,  when  ten 
years  old,  with  a  race  record  of  2.21^.  His  sire 
was  George  Wilkes,  and  his  dam  Minna  by  Red 
Jacket,  a  direct  descendant  of  Sherman  Morgan ;  sec- 
ond dam  the  running-bred  mare,  Undine  by  Gray 
Eagle.  His  feet  and  legs  were  of  the  best  material, 
and  he  was  practically  sound  when  retired  from  his 
arduous  track  campaign.  In  the  stud  he  did  well 
for  his  opportunity.  In  1889  General  Tracy  entered 
upon  his  duties  as  Secretary  of  the  Navy  in  the  Cabi- 
net of  President  Harrison,  and  the  stud  at  Owego 
was  broken  up.  Mambrino  Dudley,  by  Woodford 
Mambrino,  a  speed-developed  stallion,  out  of  Sue 
Dudley,  a  speed-producing  mare  by  Edwin  Forrest, 
was  a  shining  member  of  the  Owego  establishment, 
and,  after  he  had  trotted  to  a  record  of  2.19!,  Gen- 
eral Tracy  took  firm  ground  against  C.  J.  Hamlin 
in  favor  of  track-developed  stallions.  I  have  before 
me  a  letter  written  to  me  by  General  Tracy  in  Oc- 
tober, 1885: 

"  A  letter  from  Mr.  Archer,  dated  October  5,  in- 
forms me  that,  while  taking  his  work  at  Rochester 
last  week,  Mambrino  Dudley  *  got  on  his  quarters, 
cutting  them  badly.'  He  was  immediately  shipped 
home,  and  is  now  doing  duty  in  the  stud.  Under 
these  circumstances,  he  will  not  be  started  again 
this  year.  I  made  no  offer  to  trot  Dudley  against 
King  Wilkes,  and,  as  Mr.  Conklin's  challenge  comes 

219 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

after  Dudley's  retirement  for  the  year,  it  cannot  be 
accepted.  I  observe  that  Mr.  May  did  not  accept 
the  offer  to  trot  Dudley  against  Pilot  Knox,  but  wants 
to  trot  for  $2500.  Under  no  circumstances  would 
I  trot  a  horse  for  this  amount  of  money.  My  only 
object  was  to  give  my  horse  an  opportunity  to  lower 
his  present  record,  and  I  supposed  that  the  owner 
of  any  other  stallion  would  gladly  accept  a  like  op- 
portunity. But  it  seems  Mr.  May  thinks  he  cannot 
afford  to  lower  his  horse's  record  for  so  small  a 
sum  as  $500." 

From  first  to  last  General  Tracy  opposed  heavy 
speculation  on  the  turf,  and  thus  threw  his  influence 
in  favor  of  sentiment  in  racing.  I  have  before  me 
another  letter  from  General  Tracy  written  at  Albany, 
October  19,  1882.  It  is  marked  confidential,  but,  as 
this  seal  is  broken  by  the  lapse  of  years,  I  quote  it : 

"The  fact  that  I  ordered  Alroy  home  seems  to 
have  created  quite  a  sensation  in  New  York.  What 
is  all  this  row  about?  My  only  object  in  starting 
Alroy  again  was  to  lower  his  present  record,  but  the 
season  is  so  far  advanced  that  I  felt  there  was  small 
chance  of  that,  so  I  ordered  him  home.  Your  tele- 
gram conveyed  the  first  knowledge  I  ever  had  that 
anyone  had  ever  thought  of  his  meeting  McFerran's 
colt.  How  came  such  a  thing  to  be  suggested? 
Write  me  about  it.  I  don't  care  to  start  Alroy 
simply  to  win  money,  or  to  beat  some  other  colt,  and, 
as  he  cannot  probably  lower  his  record,  why  start 
him?  But,  if  you  have  said  to  Mr.  McFerran  that 
Alroy  would  start  if  he  came  to  New  York,  and  his 

220 


MARSHLAND  AND   SHULTSHURST 

failing  to  start  will  embarrass  you  in  any  way,  while 
I  will  not  enter  him  myself,  the  colt  may  start.  I 
have  heard  suggestions  about  his  starting  against 
Eva  and  Wildflower,  but,  to  tell  you  the  truth,  I 
did  not  think  it  wise  to  start  him  in  a  race  against 
these  two.  I  understand  that  they  are  both  sub- 
stantially under  the  same  management,  and  I  think 
that  they  would,  if  necessary,  combine  against  me. 
I  will  allow  the  colt  to  start  with  three  in  the  race, 
either  Wildflower  or  Eva  being  in,  but  not  both. 
I  don't  want  Alroy  to  trot  such  a  race  at  this  time 
of  year,  when  he  cannot  in  all  probability  lower  his 
record  if  he  wins,  but,  as  I  have  said,  if  you  have 
given  Mr.  McFerran  assurances  that  he  will  start, 
he  may." 

The  three-year-old  fever  was  quite  strong  at  that 
time,  and  it  was  Kentucky  and  California  against 
New  York.  Eva  was  owned  by  John  W.  Mackay, 
and  Wildflower  by  Leland  Stanford.  The  names 
of  McFerran,  Mackay,  Stanford,  and  Tracy  were  a 
tower  of  strength  in  those  days.  Algath  was  to  be 
the  McFerran  representative  in  the  four-cornered 
race. 

When  General  Tracy  again  embarked  in  the  breed- 
ing business,  he  purchased  a  farm  adjoining  Stony 
Ford  in  Orange  County,  and  retained  the  name  of 
Marshland.  The  land  had  been  neglected  and  drains 
had  to  be  opened.  The  ex-Secretary  of  the  Navy 
could  then  be  seen  day  after  day  in  shirt  sleeves, 
big  straw  hat,  and  rubber  boots  out  in  the  moist 
places  superintending  the  diggers  of  ditches.  It  was 

221 


RECOLLECTIONS   OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

a  picturesque  sight.  Kentucky  Wilkes  was  placed 
at  the  head  of  the  stud,  but,  as  he  was  getting  old, 
Lord  of  the  Manor,  a  grandly-bred  horse  by  Mam- 
brino  King ;  Kiosk  by  Kremlin,  out  of  Elista,  daugh- 
ter of  Green  Mountain  Maid,  and  Advertiser  were 
purchased.  The  lines  of  the  latter  were  ideal,  by 
Electioneer,  dam  Lula  Wilkes  by  George  Wilkes; 
second  dam  Lulu,  2.15,  by  Alexander's  Norman,  and 
third  dam  Kate  Crocket  by  imp.  Hooton.  As  a 
three-year-old  Advertiser  trotted  to  a  high-wheel 
sulky  in  2.16,  and  Governor  Stanford  at  one  time 
refused  an  offer  of  $125,000  for  him.  He  was  not 
of  the  rugged  type,  however,  and  was  something  of 
a  disappointment  in  the  stud,  although  General 
Tracy  won  first  prizes  with  him  at  the  National 
Horse  Show  and  the  Goshen  Horse  show.  At  the 
latter  place  the  Advertiser  colts  beat  the  colts  by 
Stamboul,  and  this  led  to  a  little  badinage  between 
the  houses  of  Tracy  and  Harriman.  One  day  Mrs. 
E.  H.  Harriman  remarked:  "General,  it  does  not 
seem  possible  for  us  to  win  when  your  colts  are 
entered." 

"  That,  my  dear  Mrs.  Harriman,  is  your  hus- 
band's fault.  He  hangs  up  the  prizes  and  appoints 
the  judges,  and,  if  I  carry  off  the  prizes  under  these 
circumstances,  his  work  is  not  well  done." 

"  I  agree  with  you,"  was  the  laughing  response, 
and  the  white  rose  of  peace  gave  out  richer  perfume. 

The  brood  mares  at  Marshland  were  selected  for 
their  producing  lines,  and  they  included  Hannah 

222 


MARSHLAND   AND    SHULTSHURST 

Price  by  Arthurton,  Vixen  by  Nutwood,  and  Mabel 
L.  by  Victor. 

J.  C.  McFerran,  the  founder  of  Glenview  Stock 
Farm,  died  in  October,  1885,  and  this  led  to  one  of 
the  greatest  dispersal  sales  ever  held  in  the  country. 
The  stallions  and  brood  mares  had  been  selected 
with  great  care,  and,  on  the  day  of  the  auction  in 
October,  1886,  there  were  present  men  of  promi- 
nence from  all  parts  of  the  land.  One  of  the  bid- 
ders was  a  quiet,  observing  man,  not  very  well  known 
to  the  majority,  but  his  bull-dog  propensity  to  hang 
on  when  he  started  for  something  that  he  really 
wanted  soon  made  him  the  observed  of  all.  He  paid 
$4000  for  Cuyler,  son  of  Rysdyk's  Hambletonian 
and  Grey  Rose  by  Harris's  Hambletonian,  and  se- 
cured Pancoast  for  $28,000,  the  largest  sum  up  to 
that  time  ever  paid  at  public  vendue  for  a  trotting 
stallion.  The  following  morning  the  name  of  John 
H.  Shults  was  made  known  to  millions  of  readers  of 
the  daily  journals.  Pancoast  had  a  record  of  2. 2 if, 
was  eleven  years  old,  and  was  the  sire  of  the  great 
three-year-old,  Patron,  2.19^  His  sire,  Woodford 
Mambrino,  had  been  lauded  in  print  by  General 
Benj.  F.  Tracy,  and  his  dam,  Bicara,  was  by  Harold, 
sire  of  Maud  S.,  and  the  second  dam,  Belle  by  Mam- 
brino Chief,  was  the  dam  of  Belmont,  sire  of  Nut- 
wood. It  was  a  rare  combination  of  blood,  and  Mr. 
Shults  felt  that,  in  laying  the  foundations  of  Parkville 
Farm,  he  had  obtained  the  best  stallion  in  the  mar- 
ket. The  thin  pamphlet  issued  by  Mr.  Shults,  No- 

223 


RECOLLECTIONS   OF   MEN  AND    HORSES 

vember  i,  1886,  is  before  me,  and  it  informs  the 
public  that  Parkville  Farm  is  on  Ocean  Parkway, 
one  and  one-half  miles  from  Prospect  Park,  L.  I. 
The  pamphlet  also  promulgates  the  doctrine  that 
"  the  best  bred,  most  successful,  and  most  fashionable 
stallions,  even  if  high  priced,  are  the  cheapest  to  use, 
because  the  most  profitable."  "  Those  who  can  afford 
nothing  better  than  a  very  indifferent  brood  mare 
and  an  untried  stallion  to  mate  with  her,  should  not 
breed  at  all,  or  should  not  have  any  hopes  of  suc- 
cess." Pancoast  had  plenty  of  visitors  in  1887,  and, 
if  fortune  had  been  kind  to  him,  he  probably  would 
have  repaid  Mr.  Shults  for  his  generous  outlay. 
But  he  was  struck  by  lightning,  which  impaired  his 
usefulness,  and  soon  after  passed  from  the  shelter  of 
Parkville  stables.  Cuyler  was  also  sold,  and  Stran- 
ger by  General  Washington  (son  of  General  Knox 
and  Lady  Thorn),  dam  Goldsmith  Maid,  2.14,  was 
purchased  to  head  the  stallion  list.  Mr.  Shults  de- 
veloped a  great  passion  for  public  sales,  and  often 
was  the  main  stay  of  the  market.  He  bought  with 
the  utmost  liberality,  kept  the  animals  for  a  few 
months,  and  generally  sold  them  at  a  loss.  He  made 
a  study  of  producing  lines,  and  added  to  his  brood- 
mare band  all  the  mothers  of  trotters,  descended 
from  the  mothers  of  trotters,  that  he  could  buy.  His 
collection  of  performers  and  producers  was  famous, 
and  yet  Mr.  Shults  was  a  long  time  in  producing 
track  winners,  although  he  employed  the  best  train- 
ers. The  real  silver  lining  to  his  cloud  came  when 

224 


MARSHLAND   AND   SHULTSHURST 

Axworthy  passed  to  him.  Stranger  was  taken  to 
Europe,  and  a  fertile  source  of  speed  filled  his  place. 
Brooklyn  reached  out  her  arms  for  Parkville  Farm, 
and  Shultshurst  near  Portchester  became  the  center 
of  breeding  operations.  In  all  of  Westchester 
County  there  is  not  a  nobler  hill  than  the  one  crowned 
by  the  Shultshurst  mansion,  and,  from  its  long  and 
broad  piazzas,  you  see  the  yachts  go  up  and  down 
Long  Island  Sound,  and  then  turn  your  face  to  the 
Hudson  and  rest  your  eyes  upon  steam  and  sail 
craft.  It  is  a  wonderful  view,  and  what  refreshing 
breezes  greet  you  as  you  stand  with  bare  head  in 
the  intense  days  of  July  and  August ! 

The  last  time  I  saw  Sunol  was  when  the  fields 
sparkled  with  the  flowers  of  May.  The  unmistak- 
able greyhound  form  was  there,  and  she  came 
toward  me  with  the  strong  and  graceful  stride  which 
made  her  queen  of  the  trotting  turf.  She  has  been 
unfortunate  as  a  mother,  but  now  that  she  has  made 
a  new  start,  I  feel  sure  that  a  high  rate  of  speed  will 
come  from  her.  She  is  an  aristocrat  in  aristocratic 
company,  and  John  H.  Shults  can  afford  to  assume 
a  modest  manner  when  he  directs  the  attention  of 
the  visitor  to  her  and  her  companions.  Mr.  Shults 
once  showed  me  figures  to  prove  that  his  breeding 
venture  had  cost  him  over  $1,000,000.  No  man 
more  deserves  success  than  he. 

Among  my  letters  is  one  from  A.  B.  Darling,  giv- 
ing the  history  of  a  gray  mare  that  he  formerly 
clrove  on  the  road: 

225 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

"Old  Daisy,  gr.  m.,  foaled  in  1852;  purchased 
of  O.  A.  Pegram  of  New  York  City  in  1861,  and 
previous  to  that  owned  by  Mr.  Moller,  sugar  refiner. 
Destroyed  in  1879." 

Daisy  showed  such  sterling  qualities  on  the  road 
that  Mr.  Darling  bred  her  to  Strideaway,  who  was  a 
son  of  Black  Hawk  Telegraph  (by  Vermont  Black 
Hawk) ,  out  of  the  celebrated  pacing  mare,  Poca- 
hontas,  2.17^  to  wagon,  and  the  result  was  Young 
Daisy,  dam  of  three  in  2.20 — Prince  Lavalard,  2.1  if ; 
Greylight,  2.i6i,  and  Duke  of  Wellington,  2.20. 
Mr.  Darling  owned,  for  a  while,  Kentucky  Prince, 
who  combined  the  blood  of  Mambrino  Chief  and 
Justin  Morgan,  and  he  bred  Young  Daisy  to  him 
and  got  Marguerite,  dam  of  Marguerite  A.,  2.12^; 
Axtellion,  2.15^;  Axworthy,  2.15^;  King  Darling- 
ton, 2.16;  Mary  A.,  2.27^,  and  Col.  Axtell,  2.30. 
I  saw  Axworthy  trot  to  his  three-year-old  record  of 
2.15^,  and,  when  I  returned  from  Kentucky  to  New 
York  and  described  the  victory  to  Mr.  Darling,  the 
glow  on  his  face  was  like  unto  that  which  spreads 
when  the  rising  sun  kisses  the  sea.  Kentucky  Prince 
was  a  brood-mare  sire,  as  well  as  a  sire  of  a  high 
rate  of  speed,  and  we  must  not  overlook  him  when 
we  talk  of  the  merit  of  Marguerite,  whose  sire  was 
Axtell,  uniting  the  blood  of  George  Wilkes  and 
Mambrino  Patchen.  I  was  in  the  timing  stand 
when  Axtell  trotted  to  his  three-year-old  record,  and 
was  not  surprised  to  learn  soon  after  that  he  had 
been  sold  for  $105,000.  In  1882  Chas.  J.  Foster 

226 


MARSHLAND   AND   SHULTSHURST 

paid  a  visit  to  Darlington,  "  which  nestles  in  a  fertile 
and  fruitful  valley  under  the  lee  of  the  mountains, 
beside  the  clear  and  rapid-running  Ramapo  River," 
and  of  Young  Daisy  he  wrote: 

"  She  is  a  fine,  raking-looking,  flea-bitten  gray, 
with  a  slashing  way  of  going.  Marguerite,  now  six 
years  old,  is  a  very  handsome  bay  mare,  long  and 
low,  fast  and  a  hard-sticker.  She  is  one  for  a  long 
day,  and  looks  like  a  stallion  about  the  head  and 
neck,  as  the  best  mares,  such  as  Pocahontas,  Idle- 
wild,  and  the  German  wonder,  Kincsem,  often  do." 

A.  B.  Darling  died  and  his  breeding  stud  was  dis- 
banded. The  successful  bidder  at  the  sale  for  Ax- 
worthy was  John  H.  Shults,  and  he  was  fortunate 
in  securing  the  chestnut  son  of  Axtell  and  Mar- 
guerite. At  Shultshurst  Axworthy  has  had  access  to 
mares  of  high  class,  and  he  has  proved  a  wonderful 
sire  of  early  speed.  His  daughter,  Alta  Axworthy, 
trotted  as  a  two-year-old  to  a  record  of  2.15!,  and 
as  a  three-year-old  in  1904  was  a  great  stake  winner, 
and  reduced  her  record  to  2.10^.  The  fastest  four- 
year-old  trotter  of  1904,  Tom  Axworthy,  2.o8f,  is 
by  Axworthy,  out  of  Mr.  Shults's  favorite  brood 
mare,  Nell,  dam  of  eight  in  the  list,  among  them 
the  trotting  mare  Belle  Vara,  2.o8f ,  and  the  three 
pacers,  Vassar,  2.07;  Susie  T.,  2.09!,  and  Ambi- 
dexter, 2.nJ.  Axworthy,  it  will  be  observed,  con- 
trolled the  gait  in  his  union  with  the  famous  speed- 
producer.  Mr.  Shults  has  contended  that  speed  is 

227 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

interchangeable,  and  he  has  not  hesitated  to  make 
much  use  of  extreme  pacing  blood  in  his  breeding 
establishment 

In  December,  1906,  Axworthy  was  sold  at  public 
auction  to  William  Simpson  for  $21,000. 


228 


CHAPTER  XXIII 

WALNUT   HALL  AND   CRUICKSTON   PARK 

EVERY  thoughtful  visitor  to  the  Blue  Grass  section 
of  Kentucky  carries  home  pleasant  recollections  of 
Walnut  Hall  Farm,  six  and  one-half  miles  from  Lex- 
ington. There  are  2000  acres  of  woodland  and 
meadow,  and  every  acre  bespeaks  the  care  of  trained 
workmen.  No  dead  branches  disfigure  the  wood- 
land carpets,  and  no  weeds  choke  the  grass  of  mead- 
ows. Cleanliness  is  the  order  of  the  spacious  build- 
ings, and  the  animals  which  are  sheltered  by  them 
are  healthy  looking,  the  reward  of  intelligent  super- 
vision. Mr.  L.  V.  Harkness  was  not  one  of  the 
foundation  breeders  of  Kentucky,  but  at  Walnut 
Hall  Farm  he  has  adhered  to  the  established  laws 
of  evolution,  and  produced  horses  which  have  suc- 
cessfully battled  for  the  great  prizes  of  the  trotting 
track. 

There  was  a  disposition  to  question  his  judg- 
ment when  he  selected  a  brother  of  the  fast  pacer, 
Bumps,  2.03^,  for  his  premier  stallion,  but  Moko 
had  the  trotting  form  of  his  ancestors,  and  his  ability 
to  transmit  this  form  was  demonstrated  by  expe- 
rience. Moko  is  a  brown  horse  of  substance,  foaled 
in  1893,  and  by  Baron  Wilkes,  dam  Queen  Ethel 
by  Strathmore;  second  dam  Princess  Ethel  by  Vot 

229 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

unteer,  and  third  dam  Black  Bess  (dam  of  Gloster, 
2.17)  by  Stockbridge  Chief.  These  are  resolute 
trotting  lines  judiciously  interwoven,  and  Moko  early 
gave  proof  of  speed-producing  power.  As  a  three- 
year-old  he  was  bred  to  three  mares,  and  one  of  the 
three  foals  was  Fereno,  who  as  a  six-year-old  trotted 
to  a  record  of  2.05^.  Another  was  Mobel,  who 
trotted  to  a  three-year-old  record  of  2.i6f,  and  to 
a  five-year-old  record  of  2.ioJ.  Chestnut  Belle,  the 
dam  of  Mobel,  is  a  great  producing  mare  by  the 
great  producing  stallion  Red  Wilkes,  and  we  nat- 
urally look  for  speed-transmitting  power  to  be  in- 
tensified in  him.  Lizzie  Sprague,  the  dam  of 
Chestnut  Belle,  is  a  producing  daughter  of  the  once- 
famous  trotter  Governor  Sprague,  2.2oJ,  and  her 
dam  was  by  Gilroy,  thoroughbred  son  of  the  four- 
mile  race  horse,  Lexington.  Mr.  Harkness  is  an 
advocate  of  action-sustaining  blood,  as  well  as  of 
action-giving  blood.  Walnut  Hall,  who  as  a  five- 
year-old  trotted  to  a  record  of  2.o8j,  is  an  example 
of  the  good  effects  of  interweaving  kindred  strains 
of  merit.  Conductor,  his  sire,  trotted  to  a  record 
of  2.14^,  and  is  by  Electioneer  (son  of  Hamble- 
tonian  and  Green  Mountain  Maid),  out  of  Sontag 
Mohawk,  the  famous  producing  daughter  of  Mo- 
hawk Chief,  son  of  Rysdyk's  Hambletoman.  Sontag 
Nellie,  the  dam  of  Sontag  Mohawk,  was  by  To- 
ronto Sontag,  he  by  Toronto  Chief,  out  of  Sontag, 
an  old-time  trotting  mare  by  Harris's  Hambletonian. 
Mollie  Yeager,  dam  of  Walnut  Hall,  is  by  Red 

230 


WALNUT   HALL  AND   CRUICKSTON    PARK 

Wilkes,  by  George  Wilkes,  by  Rysdyk's  Hamble- 
tonian,  and  her  dam  was  Docia  Payne  by  Almont 
(son  of  Alexander's  Abdallah  and  Sallie  Anderson 
by  Mambrino  Chief)  ;  second  dam  Maggie  Gaines 
(dam  of  Hamlin's  Almont  Jr.)  by  Blood's  Black 
Hawk,  a  direct  descendant  of  Justin  Morgan.  Here 
we  have  the  sterling  lines  from  which  the  American 
trotter  was  evolved,  intermingled  with  skill,  and  the 
student  of  breeding  would  have  confessed  to  a  feel- 
ing of  disappointment  had  Walnut  Hall  shown  no 
ability  to  trot  fast  in  harness. 

The  brood  mares  of  Walnut  Hall  Farm  represent 
fertile  speed  lines,  and  to  them  must  be  given  much 
of  the  credit  for  the  achievements  of  Mr.  Harkness 
in  the  domain  of  breeding.  The  stallion  whose  form 
is  in  harmony  with  his  blood  lines,  whose  force  is  of 
the  positive  kind,  is  severely  handicapped  by  a  harem 
of  mediocrity. 

Cruickston  Park  at  Gait,  Ontario,  is  one  of  the 
show  places  of  Canada,  and  horses  of  high  breeding 
graze  over  the  fertile  tract  of  1000  acres.  Miss 
K.  L.  Wilks,  an  accomplished  lady,  has  studied 
blood  lines  to  advantage,  and  has  not  hesitated  to 
pay  the  price  for  animals  whose  individuality  im- 
pressed her.  The  premier  stallion,  Oro  Wilkes,  was 
a  conspicuous  track  performer  in  his  two,  three,  and 
four-year-old  form,  and  retired  with  a  record  of  2.1 1. 
In  his  race  with  Azote  he  trotted  in  2.09.  Oro 
Wilkes  is  by  the  once  champion  three-year-old,  Sable 
Wilkes,  2.18  (son  of  Guy  Wilkes,  2.15^,  and  the 

231 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF   MEN  AND    HORSES 

great  brood  mare  Sable),  dam  Ellen  Mayhew,  2.22, 
by  Director,  2.17  (son  of  Dictator  and  Dolly)  ; 
second  dam  Lady  Ernest  by  Speculation,  by  Rys- 
dyk's  Hambletonian,  and  he  has  demonstrated  that 
speed  is  transmitted  by  developed  lines.  At  the  close 
of  the  season  of  1904  he  had  ten  representatives  in 
the  2.30  list.  In  the  brood-mare  band  are  Oro 
Fino,  2.18,  by  Eros,  out  of  Manette,  dam  of  Arion, 
2.07!;  Susie  T.,  2.09!,  by  Ambassador,  out  of  Nell, 
dam  of  four  in  2.10  and  of  nine  in  2.30;  and  Bessie 
Wilkeswood,  2.20.  Sadie  Mac,  2.o6i,  born  in  1900, 
by  Peter  the  Great,  2.07^,  dam  Fanella,  2.13,  by 
Arion,  2.07!;  second  dam  Directress,  2.19,  by  Di- 
rector, 2.17,  was  purchased  at  public  auction  by 
Miss  Wilks  for  $15,500,  and  was  regarded  as  one 
of  the  gems  of  the  stud.  As  a  three-year-old  Sadie 
Mac  won  the  Kentucky  Futurity  (1903),  and  in 
1904  she  was  kept  for  matinee  purposes  and  trotted 
in  2.08^.  Her  five-year-old  career  was  sensational. 
At  Detroit,  July  26,  1905,  she  won  the  2.12  class 
and  lowered  her  record  to  2.06^.  At  Buffalo,  Au- 
gust 8,  she  defeated  a  strong  field,  including  Grace 
Bond,  in  the  Empire,  $10,000  for  2.10  trotters, 
and  her  time  was  2.o8f,  2.o8i,  2.09^.  At  Boston, 
August  23,  she  won  the  Massachusetts,  $10,000,  and 
reduced  her  record  to  2.o6J.  At  Providence,  August 
30,  she  won  with  ease  The  Roger  Williams,  $5000, 
and  her  fastest  heat  was  2.07!.  Her  final  effort  was 
in  the  Charter  Oak,  $10,000,  at  Hartford,  Septem- 
ber 6.  The  campaign  had  told  upon  her,  and  she 

232 


WALNUT   HALL   AND   CRUICKSTON   PARK 

lost  the  first  and  second  heats  to  Zephyr  in  2.08, 
2.09^,  and  the  third  heat  to  Angiola  in  2.ioJ.  In 
the  fourth  heat  she  took  the  lead  at  the  start  and 
held  it  until  the  latter  part  of  the  mile,  when  she 
staggered  and  fell  dead.  Miss  Wilks  witnessed  the 
tragedy  which  had  saddened  thousands  of  hearts, 
and  the  driver,  Harry  Stinson,  blamed  himself  for 
asking  the  game  mare  to  continue  in  the  race  after 
she  had  shown  evidences  of  physical  weakness.  An 
autopsy  showed  that  the  heart  was  not  sound.  Sadie 
Mac  was  one  of  the  most  perfect  trotters  ever  foaled, 
and  all  who  read  the  news  of  her  thrilling  end  were 
moved  to  expressions  of  regret. 

Katherine  L.,  who  won  the  tyro  for  three-year- 
olds  at  Boston,  August  23,  1905,  is  a  bay  filly  of 
excellent  conformation  and  good  disposition,  by  Lib- 
erty Chimes  (son  of  Chimes  and  Gleam  by  Dic- 
tator), dam  Gismonde  by  Gregory  the  Great,  2.23!; 
second  dam  Kathleen  F.  by  Wilkes  Boy,  2.24^,  and 
third  dam  Betty  Mac,  2.29,  by  Abdallah  Mambrino. 

In  October,  1906,  Miss  Wilks  won  the  two-year- 
old  division  of  the  Kentucky  Futurity  with  Kentucky 
Todd,  son  of  Todd  and  Paronella,  best  time  2.14!. 
Miss  Wilks  has  won  many  prizes  in  horse-show  com- 
petitions, and  has  made,  in  a  remarkably  short  time, 
Cruickston  the  foremost  trotting-horse  breeding  es- 
tablishment of  Canada. 

Hill-and-dale  Farm  is  at  Mamaroneck,  N.  Y.,  and 
is  what  might  be  termed  a  gem  of  a  place.  Mr.  W. 
B.  Dickerman  stuck  to  Bellini,  2.13^,  when  some  of 

233 


RECOLLECTIONS   OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

his  friends  questioned  the  wisdom  of  such  a  course, 
and  has  had  his  judgment  confirmed.  Bellini  is  by 
Artillery,  2.21^  (son  of  Hambletonian  and  Wells 
Star  by  Seely's  American  Star),  dam  Merry  Clay, 
the  producing  daughter  of  Harry  Clay,  and  second 
dam  Ethelberta,  the  producing  daughter  of  Harold. 
Bellini  is  the  sire  of  thirty-four  in  the  list,  including 
Alberto,  2.09!;  Leonardo,  2.o8|;  Fillopino,  2.ioJ, 
and  The  Judge  (pacer),  2.ic4.  His  colts  have  fine 
heads,  good  barrels,  and  hard  legs,  and  it  is  evident 
that  the  blending  of  Hambletonian,  American  Star, 
and  Harry  Clay  strains  was  harmonious.  One  of 
the  brood  mares  at  Hill-and-dale  Farm  is  Tintoret, 
2.244  (sister  of  Impetuous,  2.13),  by  Dictator,  dam 
Ethelwyn,  the  producing  daughter  of  Harold.  An- 
other is  Princess  of  Monaco  by  imp.  Meddler,  out 
of  Nancy  Hanks,  2.04,  and  a  third  is  Ethel's  Pride, 
2.o6|.  I  shall  look  for  a  high  rate  of  speed  to  come 
from  each.  Expressive,  daughter  of  Electioneer  and 
Express,  who  made  a  wonderful  three-year-old  cam- 
paign, trotting  in  it  to  a  record  of  2.12^,  is  the  ad- 
mired of  all  who  are  privileged  to  inspect  the  brood- 
mare band.  The  view  from  Mr.  Dickerman's  resi- 
dence is  wonderfully  fine,  and  there  are  no  better 
stables  on  any  stock  farm  in  this  country. 

Hon.  J.  W.  Bailey,  member  from  Texas  of  the 
United  States  Senate,  is  a  student  of  breeding  and 
track  government  problems  and  his  influence  extends 
far  beyond  the  borders  of  his  own  State.  After 
the  fever  of  hot  debate,  he  has  quietly  taken  the 

234 


WALNUT   HALL  AND   CRUICKSTON   PARK 

train  from  Washington  for  Lexington  and  wandered 
over  the  fields  in  which  his  horses  grazed,  or  gone 
to  the  training  track  and  leaned  over  the  rail  and 
forgot  all  about  politics  in  watching  the  trotters  be- 
ing driven  exhibition  miles.  As  soon  as  Senator 
Bailey  is  convinced  that  one  combination  of  blood 
is  not  swelling  the  harvest  of  success,  he  does  not 
hesitate  to  shift  to  another  base.  His  mind  is  alert 
and  his  judgment  good.  The  stallion  to  which  he 
has  been  constant  is  Prodigal,  2.16,  to  high-wheel 
sulky,  sire  of  John  Nolan,  2.08,  and  sixty-nine  other 
trotters  and  pacers.  Prodigal  belongs  to  a  distin- 
guished family,  and  his  reputation  as  a  sire  of  speed 
grows  with  the  years. 

At  Franklin,  in  the  oil  region  of  Pennsylvania, 
Charles  Miller  and  Joseph  C.  Sib  ley  established  a 
great  breeding  farm.  The  first  elaborate  catalogue 
was  issued  in  1893,  and  the  compiler  of  it,  Roe 
Reisinger,  wrote  me  a  letter  from  which  I  quote : 

"  I  have  drawn  a  sharp  distinction  between  fast 
records  made  to  regulation  sulky  and  those  made  to 
bicycle.  I  think  that  you  will  find  that  my  tabula- 
tions and  briefs  of  pedigree  set  forth  the  relation  of 
the  thoroughbred  horse  to  fast  trotting  performances 
in  a  more  complete  and  elaborate  form  than  any 
previous  publication  has  ever  done.  I  have  paid 
no  attention  to  pacing  records  except  in  one  or  two 
cases  where  the  animal  whose  pedigree  I  was  giving 
had  a  pacing  record,  or  was  the  dam  of  a  pacer. 
This  for  the  reason  that  Prospect  Hill  breeds  trotters 
and  is  not  interested  in  other  breeds." 

235 


RECOLLECTIONS   OF   MEN  AND    HORSES 

In  1893  Prospect  Hill  Stock  Farm  was  called  the 
Palo  Alto  of  the  East,  because  it  had  so  much  of  the 
blood  that  Leland  Stanford  made  prominent,   and 
then  Charles  Marvin,  so  long  in  the  employ  of  Gov- 
ernor Stanford,  was  superintendent  of  the  training 
department.     Three    of    the    entire    sons    of  Elec- 
tioneer and  Beautiful  Bells  were  transferred  from 
Palo  Alto  to  Prospect  Hill,  and  they  were  St.  Bel, 
Electric  Bell  and  Belsire.     The  other  sons  of  Elec- 
tioneer were  Cecilian  out  of  Cecil  by  General  Ben- 
ton,  she  out  of  Cuba,   thoroughbred  daughter  of 
imp.  Australian;   Ah  There,  out  of  Lizzie  by  thor- 
oughbred Wildidle,  she  out  of  Lizzie  Miller  by  St. 
Clair;    Ivo  out  of  Victoria  by  thoroughbred  Don 
Victor,  she  out  of  Madora  by  St.  Clair;    and  Sir 
Outcross  out  of  Sarah  by  thoroughbred  Shannon,  she 
out   of   Blooming   by   Messenger   Duroc.      In   the 
brood-mare  band  were  daughters  of  Almont,  Guy 
Wilkes,  William  L.,  Ansel,  Sultan,  Abdallah  West, 
Mambrino   King,   Harry  Wilkes,   Erin,   Nutwood, 
Lord  Russell,  General  Benton,  Alcantara,  Greenlan- 
der,  Patron,  Louis  Napoleon,  Mambrino  Patchen, 
Robert   McGregor,    Belmont,   Harold,   Victor   Bis- 
marck, Administrator,  Happy  Medium,  and  Alexan- 
der.   There  were  a  number  of  the  daughters  of  Elec- 
tioneer, and  one  of  them  was  Belleflower,  sister  of 
Chimes  and  St.  Bel.     There  was  at  one  time  quite 
a  rivalry  between  St.  Bel  and  Chimes,  and  the  latter 
was  sneered  at  by  the  Franklin  School  as  the  cull 
of  the  Beautiful  Bells  family.     Mr.  Hamlin  bided 

236 


WALNUT   HALL   AND   CRUICKSTON    PARK 

his  time  and  finally  pointed  to  Chimes  as  the  star 
producer  of  the  family. 

The  training  department  was  located  at  Mead- 
ville,  and  the  mile  track  was  a  kite  and  the  half-mile 
track  was  of  the  regulation  pattern.  Under  Marvin 
the  Prospect  Hill  trotters  went  out  to  do  battle  for 
the  big  prizes  of  the  track  and  were  moderately  suc- 
cessful. I  recall  a  visit  to  Franklin  with  Robert 
Bonner  and  W.  R.  Allen  as  the  guests  of  Mr.  Sibley, 
and,  after  dinner  and  a  game  of  billiards  for  diges- 
tion, the  convention  was  called  to  order  for  the  dis- 
cussion of  breeding  questions.  The  night  was  far 
spent  before  we  closed  our  eyes  in  sleep,  and  the  next 
morning  we  took  the  train  for  Meadville  to  hold  our 
watches  on  the  horses  in  training.  Mr.  Sibley 
drifted  into  politics,  and  Mr.  Miller  soon  after  fol- 
lowed his  example,  and  then  Prospect  Hill  Stock 
Farm  dropped  from  its  place  of  importance.  The 
catalogue  of  1895  'ls  tne  most  expensive  work  of  the 
kind  ever  issued.  There  are  364  pages  with  58 
illustrations,  and  the  information  given  covers  the 
whole  field  of  trotting-horse  breeding.  The  special 
copy  sent  me  is  bound  in  morocco  and  embossed  in 
gold.  I  place  high  value  on  it.  Mr.  Sibley  was 
largely  responsible  for  the  transfer  of  the  American 
Trotting  Register  to  the  Association  of  which  Wil- 
liam Russell  Allen  is  President,  and  he  has  for  a 
number  of  years  been  an  influential  member  of 
the  Board  of  Appeals  of  the  National  Trotting 
Association. 

237 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

I  followed  brood  mares  and  foals  over  the  lands 
on  which  Hudson  River  Driving  Park  was  built, 
and,  when  Poughkeepsie  failed  to  generously  sup- 
port the  enterprise,  Mr.  Jacob  Ruppert  purchased 
the  property  and  used  it  for  a  breeding  and  training 
farm.  Mr.  Ruppert  was  fond  of  horses  in  his  boy- 
hood, and  as  he  grew  in  years  his  admiration  for 
the  trotter  increased.  He  spent  money  without  stint 
to  obtain  good  individuals  for  breeding  purposes, 
and  his  first  stallion  was  Virgo  Hambletonian,  sire  of 
Charley  Hogan,  2.18^.  Favorite  Wilkes  came  next, 
and  his  blood  lines  were  regarded  as  fashionable. 
He  was  by  George  Wilkes,  out  of  Favorite  by  Alex- 
ander's Abdallah,  she  out  of  Lizzie  Peebles  by 
Wagner,  and  the  two  fastest  of  his  twenty-three 
trotters  are  Prince,  2.15^,  and  Ella  Wilkes,  2.i6J, 
and  the  fastest  of  his  eight  pacers  is  Crawford,  2.07!. 
Mr.  Ruppert  was  progressive  in  his  ideas  and  at 
the  January,  1902,  sale  in  Madison  Square  Garden 
outbid  all  competitors  for  the  gem  of  the  collection, 
Oakland  Baron,  brown  stallion,  16  hands,  by  Baron 
Wilkes,  dam  Lady  Mackay  by  Silverthreads  (son 
of  The  Moor)  ;  second  dam  Fleetwing,  dam  of 
Stamboul,  2.oyJ,  by  Rysdyk's  Hambletonian.  This 
horse  was  bred  for  a  trotter,  and  at  two  years  old 
he  trotted  to  a  record  of  2.14^,  won  the  Kentucky 
Futurity  at  three  years  old,  and  at  five  took  a  race 
record  of  2.09^.  As  a  sire  Oakland  Baron  has 
proved  worthy  of  his  lineage.  Rythmic,  2.o6f; 
Baron  de  Shay,  2.08^,  and  Gail  Hamilton,  2.06^, 

238 


WALNUT  HALL  AND   CRUICKSTON   PARK 

are  the  fastest  trotters  from  his  loins.  The  princely 
revenues  of  the  great  brewing  plant  are  forgotten 
when  Mr.  Ruppert  is  at  Hudson  River  Farm  show- 
ing Oakland  Baron  and  his  foals  to  appreciative 
friends.  The  trotting  meetings  given  at  the  Driving 
Park  by  Mr.  Ruppert  are  enjoyable  affairs,  and 
every  winner  of  a  purse  feels  sure  of  his  money. 

Mr.  H.  N.  Bain,  who  does  the  major  part  of  the 
work  at  these  meetings,  is  another  successful  Dutchess 
County  breeder  and  horse-show  exhibitor.  The 
late  David  S.  Hammond,  who  had  made  a  study  of 
producing  lines,  was  laying  with  excellent  judgment 
at  the  time  of  his  death  the  foundations  of  a  breeding 
farm  in  Dutchess  County  near  the  hills,  which  he 
climbed  when  a  barefooted  boy. 

Some  years  ago  I  was  at  the  table  of  the  leading 
hotel  in  Geneva,  Switzerland,  when  a  gentleman  who 
sat  opposite  and  who  had  heard  me  speak  to  my 
daughter  of  a  letter  just  received  from  Edwin 
Thorne,  handed  me  his  card.  I  read  the  name, 
James  Roosevelt,  Hyde  Park,  and  then  knew  that 
the  breeder  of  Gloster,  2.17,  was  my  neighbor. 
Mr.  Roosevelt  took  great  interest  in  this  phenomenal 
son  of  Volunteer,  and  believed  that,  but  for  his  un- 
timely death,  he  would  have  obtained  championship 
honors.  Love  of  good  horses  and  manly  sport  was 
inherited  by  President  Theodore  Roosevelt. 


239 


CHAPTER  XXIV 

THE    HORSE    OF    CONQUEST  AND   CEREMONY 

THE  horse  of  the  ancients  unquestionably  was  used 
for  riding  instead  of  driving,  and  ease  of  motion  was 
cultivated.  The  ancients  rode  without  stirrups,  and 
amblers  and  pacers  were  preferred  to  trotters.  In 
fact,  among  the  200  horses  sculptured  by  Phidias 
on  the  frieze  of  the  Parthenon,  not  one  is  repre- 
sented as  trotting.  The  horse  of  war  was  depicted 
with  heavy  neck,  broad  chest  and  strong  quarters, 
because  he  had  to  take  up  burdens  and  do  rugged 
work.  When  the  railroad  and  the  mule  began  to 
be  used  in  army  transportation,  an  animal  of  swifter 
type  was  sought  for  cavalry  mounts,  and  the  horse 
of  old  Greek  art  was  less  conspicuous.  John  B. 
Castleman,  President  of  the  American  Saddle  Horse 
Breeders'  Association,  now  points  to  the  gaited  horse 
of  Kentucky  and  Tennessee  as  the  typical  war 
charger.  The  best  specimens  stand  from  15.3  to 
1 6  hands,  are  handsome  in  conformation,  are  light 
on  their  feet,  and  carry  the  blood  of  the  thorough- 
bred race  horse,  and  of  the  Narragansett  or  Cana- 
dian pacer.  In  1882  Professor  W.  H.  Brewer  called 
attention  in  a  carefully  prepared  paper  to  the  impor- 
tant role  the  riding  horse  has  played  in  the  history  of 
mankind.  "  Mohammed  and  his  followers,"  he  says, 

240 


HORSE   OF   CONQUEST   AND   CEREMONY 

"  swept  wherever  the  Arabian  horse  and  his  armed 
rider  could  tread,  and  no  further.  Other  peoples  had 
pushed  their  conquests  by  sea,  as  well  as  by  land, 
but  by  the  horse  and  on  the  horse  the  Mohammedan 
conquests  were  made;  the  horse  was  the  real  stand- 
ard bearer  of  the  Crescent,  and  where  the  Oriental 
war  horse  was  stopped  the  spread  of  Mohammedan- 
ism was  stayed.  The  Moors  went  through  Spain 
on  their  Barb  horses,  and,  when  they  were  driven 
back  after  several  centuries  of  occupation,  it  was  the 
men,  not  the  horses,  that  went  back.  Their  blood 
remained,  and  made  the  Spanish  horse  the  most  noted 
of  Europe,  and  what  part  they  played  in  the  wars 
of  the  times  is  the  theme  of  many  a  Spanish  ballad. 
When  the  Spanish  horse  was  at  its  best,  then  Spain 
was  at  her  height  among  nations,  and,  as  her  best 
horses  declined,  her  glory  waned.  The  Spanish  ad- 
venturers brought  their  horses  to  America,  and  what 
part  they  played  in  the  conquest  of  Peru  and  Mexico 
forms  one  of  the  most  picturesque  features  of  those 
cruel  days.  These  Spanish  horses  were  the  progen- 
itors of  the  wild  and  half-wild  breeds  which  later 
spread  from  Patagonia  and  the  plains  of  the  Plata 
on  the  south  to  the  West  Indies  on  the  east,  and 
the  valleys  of  California  on  the  north.  The  Span- 
ish horses  were  carried  to  England  to  improve  her 
breed  of  war  horses,  and  were  an  important  element 
in  the  rise  of  British  power.  And  they  went  to  Hol- 
land and  France,  and,  wherever  they  went,  they 
helped  increase  national  power  and  national  wealth." 

241 


RECOLLECTIONS   OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

At  the  Universal  Exposition  at  St.  Louis  in  1904 
the  gaited  saddle  horse  from  Kentucky,  Missouri, 
and  other  States  was  much  in  evidence,  and  thousands 
of  critical  observers  from  all  parts  of  the  world  dis- 
covered that  he  was  a  horse  of  ceremony  and  action. 
He  showed  that  he  could  trot  under  saddle,  as  well 
as  pace,  and  this  appealed  strongly  to  the  imagina- 
tion of  those  brought  up  in  the  ceremonious  school. 
Ceremony  adds  to  the  discipline,  the  efficiency  of  the 
army,  and  the  gaited  horse,  General  Castleman  con- 
tends, is  the  ideal  officer's  mount.  At  one  of  the 
Louisville  Horse  Shows  I  was  acting  as  a  judge,  with 
General  Nelson  A.  Miles,  and  the  then  Command- 
ing Officer  of  the  U.  S.  Army  was  inclined  to  adopt 
the  views  of  the  President  of  the  American  Saddle 
Horse  Breeders'  Association.  In  our  Civil  War  the 
cavalry  of  the  Confederate  Army  was  wonderfully 
effective,  and  the  best  horses  employed  in  it  were 
gathered  from  such  riding  States  as  Kentucky,  Ten- 
nessee, Missouri,  and  Virginia.  General  Phil  Sheri- 
dan, like  General  Grant,  was  an  admirer  of  horses, 
but  in  his  famous  ride  in  the  Valley  of  Virginia  to 
Winchester,  "  twenty  miles  away,"  he  did  not  use 
the  kind  of  horse  on  which  the  artist  placed  him  in 
a  picture  which  gained  popularity,  because  this  draft- 
like  horse  would  not  have  covered  the  ground  in 
the  specified  time.  General  George  A.  Custer,  an- 
other distinguished  cavalry  leader  of  the  Civil  War, 
and  who  met  a  tragic  death  on  the  plains,  was  par- 
tial to  the  type  of  saddle  horse  found  in  Kentucky, 

242 


00 


HORSE    OF   CONQUEST   AND    CEREMONY 

but  in  peaceful  days  was  an  admirer  and  a  breeder 
of  the  trotting  horse.  For  some  years  previous  to 
his  death  General  Sheridan  was  President  of  the 
Washington  Park  Jockey  Club,  which  owned  the 
fashionable  running  track  at  Chicago,  but  an  airing 
behind  a  fast  trotter  pleased  him  almost  as  much 
as  it  did  General  Grant  or  General  Miles.  Direct, 
who  could  be  balanced  to  trot  as  well  as  pace,  and 
who  acquired  a  fast  record  at  each  gait,  carries  the 
foundation  trotting  blood  of  Hambletonian,  Mam- 
brino  Chief,  and  Seely's  American  Star,  and  his  union 
with  a  mare  descended  from  the  old  saddle  stock  of 
Tennessee,  gave  us  Direct  Hal,  who  won  champion- 
ship honors  in  harness  as  a  pacer.  There  is  a  closer 
affinity  between  the  high  saddle  type  and  the  ad- 
vanced harness  type  than  some  people  seem  to  be 
aware  of.  Thus  far  Direct  Hal  has  sired  fast  trot- 
ters and  fast  pacers,  demonstrating  the  inter- 
changeability  of  gait.  As  I  have  repeatedly  said, 
environment  has  much  to  do  with  the  character  of 
the  horse.  He  adapts  himself  to  the  things  required 
of  him.  When  the  running  stallion  Messenger  was 
landed  in  Philadelphia  from  England  in  1780,  horse 
racing  was  under  ban  in  Pennsylvania,  and  other 
uses  than  producing  runners  had  to  be  found  for 
the  gray  son  of  Mambrino.  The  laws  of  1820  not 
only  suppressed  racing  in  Pennsylvania,  but  imposed 
penalties  for  printing  any  advertisement  of  a  race 
meeting.  Messenger  died  in  1808,  and  the  stern 
repression  of  racing  in  so  many  States  forced  his 

243 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

descendants  to  activity  in  harness.  It  was  fashion, 
molded  by  legal  enactments,  which  placed  Messen- 
ger at  the  foundation  of  the  trotting  structure  of 
America.  In  1802  New  York  passed  an  act  to  pre- 
vent horse  racing,  but  in  1821  this  act  was  so 
amended  as  to  permit  the  "  training,  pacing,  trot- 
ting, and  running  of  horses  upon  regulated  courses, 
and  upon  private  property  in  the  County  of  Queens." 
Races,  however,  were  allowed  only  in  the  months  of 
May  and  October,  and  the  sheriff  of  the  county  was 
required  to  be  on  hand  to  supervise  in  the  inter- 
est of  morality  these  "  trials  of  speed."  Under  the 
amended  act  the  New  York  Trotting  Club  was 
formed  in  1825  to  improve  the  speed  of  road  horses, 
and,  located  near  Jamaica,  L.  I.,  it  was  our  first 
trotting  course.  The  trotting  horse,  however,  did 
not  obtain  fashionable  rank  until  rivalry  for  the 
ownership  of  the  best  road  horse  became  earnest  be- 
tween Commodore  C.  Vanderbilt  and  Robert  Bon- 
ner.  These  stalwart  figures  gave  impetus  to  the 
evolution,  whose  progressive  steps  are  marked  by 
the  achievements  of  Dexter,  Goldsmith  Maid,  Rarus, 
St.  Julien,  Maud  S.,  Sunol,  Nancy  Hanks,  Alix, 
The  Abbot,  Cresceus,  Major  Delmar,  and  Lou 
Dillon.  They  made  the  pacer  unfashionable  on  the 
road  and  track  by  refusing  to  buy  him,  and  breeders 
and  trainers  vied  with  each  other  to  produce  trotters 
to  meet  the  demands  created  by  the  wholesome  strife 
between  the  Vanderbilt  and  Bonner  clans.  Roads 
and  vehicles  rapidly  improved,  and  the  resolute  ex- 

244 


HORSE   OF   CONQUEST   AND   CEREMONY 

ample  of  men  who  made  speed  contribute  to  senti- 
ment rather  than  to  the  gambling  fever,  clothed 
driving  with  ceremonial  dignity,  and  the  riding  horse 
was  forced  into  the  back  ground.  Tracks  for  har- 
ness meetings  multiplied  and  speculative  greed 
caused  lines  to  relax,  and  the  pacer,  no  longer  re- 
pressed, became  as  numerous  and  conspicuous  as  the 
trotter.  In  nearly  all  the  States  fundamental  law  is 
opposed  to  the  speculative  feature  of  racing,  and, 
when  excesses  revolutionize  public  sentiment,  there 
is  a  swift  return  to  basic  principles.  The  running 
horse  is  very  popular  in  New  York,  and  some  other 
States  at  the  time  I  write,  but,  if  the  future  can  be 
indexed  by  the  past,  there  will  be  periods  of  reac- 
tion which  will  change  the  character  of  the  horse. 
Environment  plays  a  very  important  part  in  evolu- 
tion. The  elimination  of  trotting  tracks  will  not 
utterly  destroy  the  light-harness  horse,  because  it 
is  reasonable  to  suppose  that  good  roads  and  speed- 
ways will  not  be  lost  to  civilization,  and  they  will 
furnish  a  theater  for  the  display  of  the  highest  types 
in  driving  competition. 


345 


CHAPTER  XXV 

MARCUS   DALY  AND   BITTER  ROOT   FARM 

IN  the  fall  of  1889  Scott  Quinton  was  at  Bay  Dis- 
trict with  a  draft  of  horses  from  Bitter  Root  Farm, 
Hamilton,  Montana.  The  previous  year  he  had  at- 
tended the  L.  J.  Rose  auction  in  New  York,  and 
astonished  conservative  people  by  paying  for  Marcus 
Daly  $26,000  for  the  yearling  colt,  Mascot  by  Stam- 
boul,  out  of  Minnehaha.  The  fastest  that  Mascot 
ever  trotted  was  2.25!,  and,  when  Mr.  Daly  let  him 
go,  it  was  for  one-tenth  of  his  original  purchase 
price.  Only  three  trotters  have  come  from  his  loins. 
In  the  Quinton  training  string  were  St.  Patrick,  who 
proved  a  failure;  Lord  Byron,  by  General  Benton, 
out  of  May  Day  by  Wissahickon,  who  trotted  to  a 
record  of  2.17;  Yolo  Maid,  who  paced  to  a  record 
of  2.12,  and  such  fillies  as  Brown  Silk  and  Nadjy. 
Brown  Silk  was  a  grandly  bred  mare  of  15.2,  by 
Baron  Wilkes,  dam  Nannie  Etticoat  (dam  of  Red 
Silk,  2.10)  by  Bellwood;  second  dam  Soprano,  the 
producing  daughter  of  Strathmore,  and  third  dam 
Abbess,  the  producing  daughter  of  Albion.  She 
trotted  to  a  record  of  2.19^,  and  is  the  dam  of  three 
in  the  list,  including  China  Silk,  2.i6J.  This  mare 
clearly  illustrates  the  potency  of  a  chain  of  producing 
dams.  Nadjy  was  a  bay  mare  of  15.3  by  Stamboul, 

246 


MARCUS    DALY   AND    BITTER    ROOT    FARM 

dam  Lady  Graves,  the  producing  daughter  of  Nut- 
wood; second  dam  Lady  Babcock,  the  producing 
daughter  of  Whipple's  Hambletonian,  sire  of  the 
dam  of  Azote,  2.04!.  She  trotted  to  a  record  of 
2.26,  and  then  became  a  brood  mare.  Whipple's 
Hambletonian  was  a  chestnut  horse,  foaled  in  1861, 
by  Guy  Miller  (son  of  Rysdyk's  Hambletonian), 
dam  Martha  Washington,  by  Burr's  Washington,  by 
Burr's  Napoleon.  As  a  yearling  he  was  taken  to 
California  by  S.  B.  Whipple,  where  the  best  trotter 
sired  by  him  was  Graves,  2.19.  I  saw  this  chestnut 
stallion  at  San  Mateo  when  he  was  twenty-nine  years 
old,  and  he  was  then  a  well-preserved  horse,  with  a 
far-reaching  reputation.  Eleven  of  his  sons  are  sires 
of  speed,  and  twenty-two  of  his  daughters  are  dams 
of  trotters  and  pacers.  Marcus  Daly  was  a  man  of 
resolute  purpose  and  not  discouraged  by  early  dis- 
appointments. Being  a  man  of  large  means,  as  well 
as  sound  judgment,  he  was  able  to  buy  the  best, 
and  Bitter  Root  Farm  became  one  of  the  great  trot- 
ting nurseries  of  the  country.  In  the  group  of  stal- 
lions were  Prodigal,  2.16  (son  of  Pancoast  and 
Beatrice);  Bow  Bells,  2.19!  (son  of  Electioneer 
and  Beautiful  Bells)  ;  Ponce  de  Leon,  2.13  (son  of 
Pancoast  and  Elvira),  and  Milroi  by  Guy  Wilkes, 
out  of  Manon,  2.21,  by  Nutwood.  In  the  brood- 
mare band  were  Fanny  Witherspoon,  2.i6J  (by  Al- 
mont,  out  of  "Lizzie  Witherspoon  by  Cough's  Wag- 
ner) ;  Belle  F.,  2.15^  (by  Masterlode,  out  of  Belle 
Hastings  by  Magna  Charta)  ;  Rapidan,  dam  of 

247 


RECOLLECTIONS   OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

Lockheart,  2.o8|;  Electrix  by  Electioneer,  out  of 
Lady  Russell,  sister  of  Maud  S. ;  Helen  T.,  sister 
of  Arion,  2.oyf ;  Franchise  by  Electioneer,  out  of 
Nutula,  sister  of  Nutwood;  Red  Cherry,  2.144  (by 
Red  Wilkes,  out  of  Madam  Herr  by  Mambrino 
Patch  en)  ;  Rachel,  2.08^  (by  Baron  Wilkes,  out 
of  Willie  Wilkes  by  George  Wilkes)  ;  Elloree,  2.o8£ 
(by  Axtell,  out  of  Flora  McGregor  by  Robert  Mc- 
Gregor) ;  Extasy,  2.11^,  by  Baron  Wilkes,  out  of 
Ethelwyn  by  Harold;  Emily,  2.11  (by  Prince 
Regent,  2.i6i,  out  of  Barbara  by  Kentucky  Prince)  ; 
Rosy  Morn  (dam  of  Boreal,  2.15!),  by  Alcantara, 
out  of  Noontide,  2.20^,  by  Harold,  and  Welcome 
Bunker  by  Mambrino  King,  out  of  Lady  Bunker, 
dam  of  Guy  Wilkes.  The  death  of  Marcus  Daly 
led  to  the  dispersal  of  the  famous  breeding  stud, 
and  the  sale  was  the  feature  of  the  auction,  which 
followed  the  November,  1901,  horse  show  in  Madi- 
son Square  Garden. 

Marcus  Daly  helped  Montana  before  the  world 
by  demonstrating  that  its  grass  and  climate  were 
favorable  to  the  growth  of  the  highest  types  of  do- 
mestic animals,  and  that  the  lung  expansion  which 
attended  growth  in  open  pastures  was  such  as  to  sus- 
tain inherited  speed.  Before  the  establishment  of 
Bitter  Root  Farm,  the  popular  impression  was  that 
Montana  might  grow  indifferent  cattle,  but  not  race 
horses  of  high  class.  When  a  clear-sighted  man  who 
has  given  years  of  thought  and  thousands  of  dollars 
to  the  collection  of  a  stud  representing  the  highest  de- 

248 


MARCUS    DALY   AND    BITTER    ROOT    FARM 

grees  of  excellence,  suddenly  passes  from  the  scene 
of  earthly  activity,  it  is  in  one  sense  a  public  mis- 
fortune to  disband  the  stallions  and  brood  mares. 
The  upward  trend,  the  evolution  of  form  upon  which 
speed  depends  is  suddenly  arrested,  and  it  is  nec- 
essary to  find  a  new  man  with  inclination,  means,  and 
brains  to  engage  in  a  similar  enterprise.  The  new 
man  cannot  have  the  experience  of  the  old  one  and 
progress  is  not  as  rapid  as  it  would  have  been  with 
the  original  stud  kept  intact.  The  dispersion  of  well- 
bred  animals,  however,  stimulates  a  wider  interest 
in  breeding  problems,  because  each  purchaser  of  one 
or  more  of  them  has  ambitious  plans  of  his  own, 
and  may  in  time  establish  a  stud  of  magnitude. 

When  Mr.  Daly  selected  Fanny  Witherspoon  as 
a  brood-mare  type,  he  evidently  was  not  unmindful 
of  the  drift  of  my  contentions.  She  stood  16.1,  and 
was  by  Almont,  out  of  Lizzie  Witherspoon  by 
Cough's  Wagner,  a  son  of  the  four-mile  race  horse 
Wagner.  In  the  stable  of  Commodore  N.  W.  Kitt- 
son  she  trotted  some  very  hard  races,  winning  52 
heats  in  2.30  or  better,  and  obtaining  a  record  of 
2.i6J,  and  trotting  to  a  two-mile  record  of  4.43. 
In  the  days  when  I  pointed  to  Fanny  Witherspoon 
as  an  example  of  the  speed-sustaining  character  of 
running  blood  in  a  trotting  pedigree,  I  was  the 
target  of  all  the  critics,  big  and  little,  who  dogmat- 
ically proclaimed  that  every  additional  drop  of 
thoroughbred  blood  infused  into  the  trotting  struc- 
ture would  weaken,  if  not  destroy,  that  structure. 

249 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

I  early  grasped  the  truth  that  the  majority  of  old- 
time  trotters,  those  excluded  from  the  speed  stand- 
ard of  to-day,  were  largely  the  outgrowth  of  chance, 
were  bred  in  aimless  fashion,  and  lacked  the  indi- 
vidual excellence  to  establish  a  progressive  family. 
I  also  realized  that  as  Messenger,  a  thoroughbred 
from  England,  had  stamped  Hambletonian  with  in- 
dividuality and  remarkable  potency,  an  occasional 
return  to  the  thoroughbred,  the  purest  of  all  bloods, 
would  strengthen  the  fiber  of  the  light-harness  horse. 
The  thoroughbred  could  not  be  classed  as  entirely 
alien  blood,  and  therefore  would  not  prove  as  an- 
tagonistic to  harness  action  as  some  of  my  critics 
averred.  The  strong  chest  development  of  the  thor- 
oughbred race  horse  affords  greater  room  for  the 
work  of  the  vital  organs,  and  this  contributes  to 
nerve  force  and  staying  power.  The  quality  of  the 
bone  is  better,  giving  strength  with  lightness  and 
increasing  speed  capacity.  Every  superfluous  pound 
adds  to  the  handicap  of  the  horse  in  a  contest  for 
the  highest  honors  of  the  track.  The  machine  which 
is  clean,  muscular,  and  well-balanced  is  the  one  re- 
lied upon  to  accomplish  the  best  results.  A  big  and 
heavy  head  may  destroy  poise  with  as  much  certainty 
as  big  and  clumsy  feet.  The  trotting  gait  may  be 
looked  upon  as  an  acquired  heredity,  but,  through 
persistent  use,  it  is  engrafted  upon  the  type,  and  is 
transmitted  with  regularity.  When  you  introduce  a 
thoroughbred  strain  into  a  trotting  pedigree,  you 
should  choose  one  not  only  adapted  to  the  type,  but 

250 


MARCUS    DALY   AND    BITTER   ROOT   FARM 

one  closely  or  remotely  related.  In  doing  this  you 
will  avoid  the  charge  of  introducing  a  violent  dis- 
turbing factor  in  the  shape  of  alien  blood.  As  the 
fountain  head  of  our  greatest  trotting  family,  Ham- 
bletonian,  was  a  thoroughbred,  it  cannot  be  truly 
said  that  the  engrafting  of  more  thoroughbred 
strains  upon  this  structure  is  an  alien  step  in  the  di- 
rection of  dangerous  antagonisms.  The  thorough- 
bred blood  certainly  has  done  away  with  the  old 
crooked  or  sickle-shaped  hind  leg,  which  is  radically 
opposed  to  extreme  flights  of  speed.  The  wide  nos- 
tril of  the  thoroughbred  when  engrafted  upon  the 
harness  horse  adds  to  the  freedom  of  respiration 
and  thus  increases  vital  powers.  The  spine,  enlarged 
and  strengthened  by  ages  of  exertion  under  the  sad- 
dle, is  indicative  of  a  large  spinal  cord,  which 
greatly  favors  the  distribution  of  nervous  energy. 
The  introduction  of  this  quality  of  the  thorough- 
bred will  hardly  strengthen  to  a  permanent  degree 
a  tendency  to  reversion  in  the  trotting  structure. 

Fanny  Witherspoon,  bred  to  Prodigal,  2.16  (son 
of  Pancoast  and  Beatrice),  produced  Practical,  a 
bay  filly,  who  trotted  to  a  three-year-old  record  of 
2.19^,  and  Wilderness,  a  bay  colt  who  trotted  to  a  rec- 
ord of  2.i8J.  This  is  a  good  record  for  a  mare  that 
was  severely  campaigned,  and  that,  according  to 
some  of  the  critics,  was  offbred. 

Rosy  Morn  was  another  great  mare  in  the  Daly 
collection.  Her  sire,  Alcantara,  trotted  in  a  race  to 
a  four-year-old  record  of  2.23,  and  was  by  George 

251 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF    MEN   AND    HORSES 

Wilkes,  out  of  Alma  Mater  by  Mambrino  Patchen, 
she  out  of  Estella,  thoroughbred  daughter  of  imp. 
Australian,  and  she  out  of  Fanny  G.  by  imp.  Mar- 
grave. The  thoroughbred  strains  are  among  the 
best  in  the  studbook,  and,  as  I  made  many  a 
stout  fight  for  Alma  Mater  in  the  old  days  of 
experimental  strength,  I  was  glad  to  see  her  ob- 
tain the  high  rank  that  she  holds  among  pro- 
ducing matrons.  Dr.  A.  S.  Talbert,  who  bred 
her,  and  who  drove  her  in  the  streets  of  Lexington, 
modestly  hoped  for  success,  but  scarcely  dreamed  of 
the  crown  which  came  to  her.  Alma  Mater  has  eight 
trotters  in  the  list,  and  one  of  these,  Alcantara,  is 
the  sire  of  no  trotters  and  48  pacers.  I  was  at 
Lexington  when  W.  S.  Hobart  paid  $15,000  for 
Alma  Mater,  and  transferred  her  to  his  farm  in 
California.  He  bred  her  to  Electioneer,  but,  when 
I  renewed  my  acquaintance  with  her  on  the  Pacific 
Coast,  she  was  not  in  foal  to  this  greatest  of  Cali- 
fornia stallions.  The  dam  of  Rosy  Morn  also  car- 
ried the  best  of  thoroughbred  strains.  She  was 
Noontide,  2.20^,  the  producing  daughter  of  Har- 
old, dam  Midnight,  dam  of  Jay-eye-see,  2.10,  by 
Pilot  Jr.;  second  dam  Twilight,  thoroughbred 
daughter  of  Lexington ;  third  dam  Daylight  by  imp. 
Glencoe,  whose  blood  is  almost  priceless  in  England, 
and  fourth  dam  Darkness  by  Wagner,  the  competitor 
of  Grey  Eagle  in  the  famous  race  of  four-mile  heats. 
Rosy  Morn  is  the  dam  of  two  trotters,  Boreal  (3), 
2.15!,  and  The  Curfew,  2.27^,  and  of  two  pacers, 

252 


MARCUS    DALY   AND    BITTER    ROOT    FARM 

Beauseant,  2.06^,  and  Matin  Bells,  2.064.  She  is 
the  dam  of  four  sires,  one  of  which  is  Boreal,  sire  of 
Boralma,  2.07,  and  another  is  Austral,  the  untrained 
brother  of  Boreal.  If  Marcus  Daly  had  lived  and 
watched  over  Rosy  Morn  at  Bitter  Root  Farm,  his 
highest  expectations  of  her  as  a  speed-producer 
would  have  been  realized. 


253 


CHAPTER  XXVI 

THE  TROTTING   HORSE   IN  TENNESSEE 

PONCE  DE  LEON,  Bow  Bells,  and  Rosy  Morn  for- 
merly were  members  of  the  celebrated  Hermitage 
Stud  at  Nashville,  Tenn.  The  farms  owned  by  V. 
L.  Kirkman,  John  Thompson,  and  May  Overton 
afforded  a  range  of  2000  acres  along  the  Franklin 
Pike,  south  of  Nashville,  in  what  was  known  as  the 
heart  of  the  Blue  Grass  region  of  Tennessee.  This 
section  had  for  many  years  been  recognized  as  the 
birthplace  of  successful  running  horses,  and  there 
was  no  reason  why  the  trotting  horse  should  not  be 
grown  there.  I  recall  a  visit  to  Nashville  in  the 
fall  of  1888,  one  year  after  the  Hermitage  Stud  had 
been  organized.  The  State  Fair  was  in  progress 
at  Westside  Park,  and,  with  General  W.  H.  Jack- 
son, I  was  drafted  into  service  as  a  judge  of  horses. 
We  distributed  the  ribbons  to  the  great  gratification 
of  the  few  and  to  the  serious  disappointment  of  the 
majority  of  exhibitors.  We  lunched  in  the  Club 
House  with  the  President,  G.  M.  Fogg,  and  I  re- 
produce the  report  of  the  conversation : 

"  General  Jackson  remarked  that  the  best  suc- 
cesses at  Belle  Meade  had  come  from  mares  which 
had  not  been  raced  off  their  legs.  The  General  inclines 
to  the  Hamlin  theory.  He  does  not  believe  that 

254 


THE   TROTTING   HORSE   IN   TENNESSEE 

you  can  perpetuate  vigorous  performers  by  using 
generation  after  generation  in  the  stud  nerve-racked 
and  vitality-sapped  mares.  His  preference  is  mares 
rich  in  winning  strains,  but  which  have  never  been 
raced.  The  victories  of  Proctor  Knott  at  Monmouth 
Park  and  Sheepshead  Bay  caused  great  rejoicing  at 
Belle  Meade.  With  regard  to  Tallapoosa,  dam  of 
the  Futurity  winner,  the  General  said  that  she  was 
about  the  least  impressive  looking  mare  on  the  farm. 
He  did  not  value  her  highly,  but  Proctor  Knott  was 
evidence  that  she  had  nicked  perfectly  with  Luke 
Blackburn.  The  great  problem  of  the  breeder  is  to 
discover  the  golden  nick  for  his  stallions,  and  the 
fruits  of  success  are  gathered  by  sticking  to  this  nick. 
General  Jackson  is  of  the  opinion  that  breeders  of 
the  trotter  will  frequently  have  to  return  to  the 
thoroughbred  for  an  improvement  of  the  arterial 
system.  The  lung  and  circulation  capacity  of  the 
thoroughbred  horse  is  superior  to  that  of  any  other 
animal,  and  this  capacity  is  essential  to  the  sustain- 
ment  of  action  when  heats  are  divided.  The  mule 
is  presumed  to  be  iron-clad  against  heat  and  fatigue, 
and  yet  the  late  General  Harding  demonstrated  at 
Belle  Meade  that  the  thoroughbred  horse  was  less 
affected  by  heat  than  the  mule.  He  worked  the 
mule  to  one  plow  and  the  thoroughbred  to  another 
and  drove  them  alternate  rows  in  fields  of  corn  so 
high  as  to  shut  out  the  breeze,  and  in  every  instance 
the  mule  hoisted  the  sign  of  distress  long  before  the 
horse.  The  superior  arterial  system  of  the  horse 
brought  him  victorious  through  the  test." 

In  one  of  the  trotting  races  on  the  track  there 
was  an  interference,  and  a  negro  driver  in  the  em- 
ploy of  President  Fogg  lodged  a  complaint  against 

255 


RECOLLECTIONS   OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

a  white  driver  from  Kentucky.  I  was  the  presiding 
judge,  and  had  ordered  the  drivers  to  come  to  the 
stand.  The  white  man  hotly  disputed  the  word  of 
the  negro,  and  drew  back  to  strike  him.  I  held  up 
my  hand  and  quietly,  but  firmly,  said:  "  Stand  aside, 
or  I  will  take  your  livelihood  away  by  ruling  you  off 
the  tracks  of  the  National  Trotting  Association.'* 
As  I  finished,  I  heard  a  commotion  in  the  line  of  the 
grand  stand,  and,  looking  in  that  direction,  saw  Gen- 
eral Jackson  leaping  over  the  low  fence,  followed  by 
some  fifty  or  more  angry  men.  The  General  rushed 
up  into  the  judges'  stand  and  hotly  exclaimed:  "  As 
a  citizen  of  this  State  I  will  not  permit  a  white  man 
from  Kentucky  to  assault  a  black  man  for  no  other 
reason  than  that  he  is  black.  It  is  unjust  and  an 
outrage  that  I  and  my  friends  will  punish."  The 
General  stood  with  hands  clenched  and  cheeks  as 
blazing  as  his  red  hair,  and  the  white  driver  cowered 
before  the  mob.  Looking  the  leader  of  the  mob  in 
the  eyes,  I  said:  "General  Jackson,  I  am  amazed 
at  your  impetuosity.  I  have  already  warned  this 
driver  that  expulsion  stares  him  in  the  face,  and  I 
must  ask  you  and  your  friends  to  withdraw." 

The  next  morning  I  received  a  note  from  General 
Jackson  in  which  he  apologized  for  losing  his  tem- 
per. He  had  been  a  slave-holder,  and  believed  in 
keeping  the  negro  in  a  position  of  servitude,  but 
would  not  remain  silent  when  he  thought  that  the 
former  slave  was  being  unjustly  dealt  with. 

I  make  another  extract  from  my  diary: 
256 


THE    TROTTING    HORSE   IN    TENNESSEE 

"  I  drove  Sunday  afternoon  out  the  Franklin  Pike 
with  President  Fogg  and  Directors  A.  H.  Robinson 
and  Thos.  W.  Wrenne.  The  sun  was  bright  and 
the  air  balmy.  As  we  passed  Fort  Negley  and  saw 
a  throng  of  holiday  seekers  strolling  among  the 
breastworks,  which  twenty-odd  years  of  peace  had 
not  effaced,  the  thoughts  reverted  to  the  stormy  days 
when  the  cannon  of  Hood  fiercely  answered  the  can- 
non of  Thomas.  Down  in  the  valley,  close  by  the 
road,  a  number  of  trees  were  pointed  out  to  me 
which  bore  the  heavy  scars  of  war.  Ten-  and  twenty- 
pound  balls  had  crashed  among  them  and  literally 
maimed  them  for  life.  In  the  shade  of  these  trees 
calves  slept,  colts  frolicked,  and  children  played,  un- 
mindful of  the  evidences  of  a  strife  which  once 
engaged  the  earnest  attention  of  the  civilized  world. 
The  new  Nashville  is  totally  unlike  the  old  Nash- 
ville. Out  of  the  red  fires  of  conflict  came  a  city 
with  broader  aims,  quickened  energies,  and  higher 
courage.  The  carriage  stopped  in  front  of  the  main 
stable  of  the  Hermitage  Stud,  and  Mr.  Thompson 
was  there  to  show  us  the  horses.  I  had  heard  of  the 
filly  which  Elvira  had  by  her  side  and  I  was  anxious 
to  see  it.  It  is  a  dark  chestnut  by  Wedgewood,  and 
a  good  one.  Elvira,  although  stone  blind,  is  a  good 
mother,  and  she  strongly  resembles  her  sister,  Bea- 
trice, dam  of  Patron.  The  yearling  colt  by  Pan- 
coast,  out  of  Elvira,  is  called  Ponce  de  Leon,  and 
he  has  been  in  hard  luck.  He  came  very  near  dying 
in  March  of  pink  eye.  He  is  a  powerfully  built 
colt,  and  is  a  great  lot  trotter." 

Some  wise  people  have  assured  us  that  young  lot 
trotters  never  develop  into  greatness,  and  yet  Ponce 
de  Leon  has  a  record  of  2.13,  is  a  winner  of  the 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

highest  honors  in  horse-show  competition,  and  is  the 
sire  of  fifteen  trotters,  including  Edwin  B.,  2.12^; 
Percy,  2.13,  and  Preston,  2.13^.  He  also  is  a  sire 
of  pacers.  Ponce  de  Leon  was  a  conspicuous  member 
of  the  Dreamwold  Stud  of  Thos.  W.  Lawson. 
Elvira  was  a  black  mare  of  15.2,  foaled  in  1880,  and 
bred  at  Glenview  by  J.  C.  McFerran.  Her  sire  was 
Cuyler  by  Rysdyk's  Hambletonian,  and  her  dam  was 
Mary  Mambrino  by  Mambrino  Patchen;  second 
dam  Belle  Wagner  by  Embry's  Wagner,  son  of  the 
great  race  horse  Wagner;  third  dam  Lady  Belle 
by  Bellfounder  Jr. ;  fourth  dam  Multiflora  by  Mon- 
mouth  Eclipse,  and  fifth  dam  by  Koskiusko.  I  remem- 
ber her  races  as  a  three-year-old  and  a.  four-year-old, 
and  can  see  to  this  day  the  gratified  smile  on  the  face  of 
her  breeder  and  owner,  James  C.  McFerran,  the  rough 
diamond  who  founded  Glenview,  the  great  breeding 
farm  on  the  outskirts  of  Louisville.  Elvira  died  at 
Hermitage  in  the  summer  of  1889,  leaving  but  two 
foals,  Ponce  de  Leon,  2.13,  and  Queensware,  2.25. 
If  she  had  lived,  she  probably  would  have  taken 
rank  with  her  sister  Beatrice,  dam  of  the  two  trot- 
ters, Patron,  2.14^,  and  Prodigal,  2.16;  and  of  the 
four  sires,  Patronage,  sire  of  Alix,  2.03!;  Patron, 
sire  of  39  trotters  (including  Caspian,  2.07^;  Ca- 
racalla,  2.10;  Miss  Delia  Fox,  2.ioJ,  and  Bernalda, 
2.ioj) ;  Prodigal,  sire  of  37  trotters  (among  them 
John  Nolan,  2.08;  Free  Giver,  2.1  ij;  Great  Spirit, 
2. i  if,  and  Improvidence,  2.12),  and  Pangloss,  sire 
of  Niece,  2.2o|.  Two  of  the  daughters  of  Beatrice 


THE    TROTTING    HORSE    IN    TENNESSEE 

are  dams  of  speed,  making  her  one  of  the  greatest 
of  producing  mares.  The  thoroughbred  foundation 
evidently  gave  her  nerve  force  and  breeding-on 
capacity. 

The  Hermitage  mile  track  was  an  excellent  one, 
and  on  the  far  side  of  it  was  the  charming  country 
home  of  V.  L.  Kirkman,  named  Oak  Hill.  In  the 
autumn  the  scarlet-fringed  leaves  of  oak  trees 
were  conspicuous  among  the  beach  and  elms  and 
added  to  the  glory  of  the  woods.  The  first  time  I 
saw  Kirkman  was  when  the  pickets  on  the  banks  of 
the  Cumberland  made  him  a  prisoner,  and  brought 
him  to  headquarters  in  Clarksville.  He  was  a  rosy- 
cheeked  boy,  fired  with  the  ardor  of  the  South,  and, 
after  the  Civil  War,  developed  into  a  handsome, 
athletic  man,  and  was  quite  a  favorite  at  Long 
Branch,  Saratoga,  and  other  Northern  resorts.  He 
was  a  great  admirer  of  the  blood  horse,  and  it  is 
sad  to  think  of  him  passing  from  robust  manhood 
into  a  stage  of  decay  before  he  was  really  old,  as 
we  count  birthdays. 

Rosy  Morn  was  early  put  to  breeding  at  Hermit- 
age Stud,  because  of  her  blood  lines.  She  was  given 
no  opportunity  to  take  a  record.  Bow  Bells  by  Elec- 
tioneer, out  of  Beautiful  Bells,  had  been  purchased 
at  Palo  Alto,  and,  as  a  three-year-old,  he  was  bred 
to  the  three-year-old  filly,  Rosy  Morn. 

Wedgewood  was  the  premier  stallion,  and  he  was 
a  handsome  brown  of  15.2^,  by  Belmont  (son  of 
Alexander's  Abdallah),  dam  Woodbine  by  Wood- 

259 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

ford,  thoroughbred  son  of  Koskiusko;  second  dam 
the  Singleton  mare,  who  possessed  great  individu- 
ality. The  memorable  turf  campaign  of  Wedge- 
wood  was  in  1880,  when  he  defeated  such  trotters 
as  Katie  Middleton,  Deck  Wright,  Kentucky  Wilkes, 
Patchen,  Iron  Age,  Knox  Boy,  Driver,  and  Sheridan, 
and  retired  from  the  track  with  a  record  of  2.19. 
Like  Woodford  Mambrino,  the  other  son  of  Wood- 
bine, he  was  a  very  determined  trotter.  Favonia, 
who  was  out  of  Fadette  by  Alexander's  Abdallah, 
she  out  of  Lightsome,  thoroughbred  daughter  of 
imp.  Glencoe,  was  one  of  the  greatest  of  the  twenty- 
one  trotters  from  the  loins  of  Wedgewood.  Her 
record  of  2.15  was  made  to  high-wheel  sulky  in 
a  bruising  campaign.  Lightsome  was  the  dam  of 
the  famous  race  horses,  Nevada  and  Salina,  thus 
demonstrating  the  vitality  of  her  line.  She  disproved 
the  truth  of  the  old  theory  of  the  Arabs,  that  the 
mare  is  simply  a  vase  in  which  the  seeds  sprout,  and 
that  she  exercises  no  influence  over  the  character 
of  the  fruit.  Dame  Wood,  a  daughter  of  Wedge- 
wood,  bred  to  Ashland  Wilkes,  who  traced  through 
his  dam  to  the  high-class  thoroughbred,  imp.  Knight 
of  St.  George,  produced  John  R.  Gentry,  a  wonder- 
fully handsome  horse  with  a  pacing  record  of  2.00^. 
The  blood  of  Wedgewood  is  breeding  on  through 
eighteen  sons  which  are  sires,  and  sixteen  daughters 
which  are  dams,  of  speed. 

The  light-harness  foundation  in  Tennessee,  a  sad- 
dle-horse State,  was  laid  by  such  stallions  as  Enfield, 

360 


THE   TROTTING   HORSE   IN   TENNESSEE 

son  of  Rysdyk's  Hambletonian  and  Julia  Machree 
by  Seely's  American  Star;  Bostick's  Almont  Jr.  by 
Almont,  dam  by  Edwin  Forrest;  Blackwood  Jr. 
by  Blackwood,  dam  Lizzie  Anderson  by  Clark 
Chief;  McCurdy's  Hambletonian  by  Harold,  dam 
Lulu  by  Dorsey's  Golddust,  and  Tennessee  Wilkes 
by  George  Wilkes.  Enfield  was  the  brother  in  blood 
of  Aberdeen,  and  he  was  taken  to  Tennessee  by  W. 
and  V.  L.  Polk  of  Columbia,  where  he  spent  nearly 
all  of  his  life.  His  potency  was  asserted  more 
through  his  daughters  than  his  sons,  twenty-nine  of 
these  being  recognized  as  producers.  Belle  Archer, 
2.i2f ;  Preston,  2.13!,  and  Reference,  2.18,  were 
out  of  daughters  of  Enfield.  McCurdy's  Hamble- 
tonian trotted  to  a  five-year-old  record  of  2.264,  an(^ 
is  a  sire  of  trotters  and  pacers,  as  well  as  of  the 
sires  and  dams  of  speed.  His  best  producing  sons 
are  McEwen,  2.i8J,  and  Red  Fern,  2.27!.  The 
fastest  of  the  trotters  by  McEwen  are  Merman, 
2.1 2j;  Penelope,  2.i2f,  and  Musqueton,  2.14.  The 
fastest  of  his  pacers  are  Rudy  Kip,  2.04^;  Miss  Jen- 
nings, 2.o8i;  Cadet,  2.09!,  and  Hal  McEwen, 
2.ioJ.  Mazette,  2.04!,  and  Hal  Chaffin,  2.054,  at 
the  pace,  are  out  of  daughters  of  McEwen.  May 
Fern,  2.1  ij,  and  Summer  Fern,  2.13!,  are  the  fast- 
est of  the  trotters  by  Red  Fern.  Laura,  the  dam  of 
Summer  Fern,  is  by  the  sire  of  Red  Fern,  thus  mak* 
ing  her  strongly  inbred. 

Tennessee  Wilkes  trotted  to  a  record  of  2.27,  and 
he  sired  more  pacers  than  trotters.    That  probably 

261 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

was  for  the  reason  that  his  owner,  Major  Campbell 
Brown,  of  Springhill,  was  partial  to  the  pacer,  and  let 
him  spend  nuptial  hours  with  mares  of  pacing  descent. 
Campbell  Brown  was  a  cultivated  gentleman,  of 
highly  nervous  organization,  and  I  shall  always  re- 
member the  last  night  I  spent  in  his  house.  Mr. 
Robert  Bonner,  who  was  with  me,  wanted  to  take 
an  early  train  for  Nashville,  and,  after  a  long  night 
in  discussing  the  horse,  and  affairs  of  the  Church, 
we  were  up  before  dawn  and  caught  the  train  which 
was  kindly  stopped  for  us.  When  the  financial  de- 
pression struck  Tennessee,  as  well  as  other  sections 
of  the  country,  the  fortunes  of  many  breeders  were 
impaired,  and  Campbell  Brown  died  a  violent  death. 
Mr.  A.  H.  Robinson  is  one  of  the  few  of  the  group 
of  trotting-horse  breeders  that  I  used  to  meet  at 
West  Side  and  Cumberland  Parks,  who  is  still  in 
the  business.  The  Hermitage  Stud  has  passed  away, 
and  so  have  the  breeding  establishments  of  Fogg, 
Reynolds,  and  Douglass.  The  grass  of  Tennessee 
is  sweet,  but  not  so  nutritious  as  that  of  the  Blue 
Grass  region  of  Kentucky,  and  this  added  something 
to  the  handicap.  The  trees  blossom  and  the  birds 
nest  earlier  in  Tennessee  than  in  Kentucky,  and 
spring  there  is  full  of  fragrance  and  hope,  but  the 
ride  from  Chicago,  Boston,  Philadelphia,  and  New 
York  to  Nashville  is  longer  than  to  Lexington,  and 
horse  lovers  hesitate  to  take  it  when  the  attractions 
are  somewhat  weak.  If  the  trotting-horse  breeders 
of  Tennessee  had  continued  as  they  began  when 

262 


THE   TROTTING   HORSE   IN   TENNESSEE 

Cumberland  Park  was  built,  Nashville  might  have 
rivaled  Lexington  as  a  breeding  center;  but,  well, 
why  sigh  over  the  misfortunes,  or  wasted  opportu- 
nities of  the  past? 

Alice  West,  a  black  mare  foaled  in  1873,  by  Al- 
mont,  dam  Young  Kate  by  McDonald's  Mambrino 
Chief,  came  northward  from  Columbia,  Tenn.,  as 
a  four-year-old,  and  defeated  such  horses  as  Ken- 
tucky Wilkes,  Romance,  Sir  Walter,  and  Hogarth, 
and  I  shall  never  forget  how  happy  her  owner, 
George  T.  Allman  was.  E.  F.  Geers  was  the  trainer 
and  driver,  and  she  helped  to  draw  attention  to  his 
patience  and  skill.  She  obtained  a  record  of  2.26. 
Blackwood  Jr.,  foaled  in  1871,  by  Blackwood,  dam 
Belle  Sheridan  by  Blood's  Black  Hawk,  came  to 
New  York  in  1875,  in  the  training  stable  of  A.  J. 
McKimmin,  and  defeated  such  four-year-olds  as 
Hambletonian  Mambrino  and  Alice  Medium,  and 
was  quite  a  star  as  a  five-year-old  in  Centennial  con- 
tests. At  Hartford  he  defeated  Dame  Trot  and 
Rosewood,  and  at  Philadelphia  he  won  the  stallion 
cup  from  Governor  Sprague  and  Sam  Purdy,  and 
trotted  to  a  record  of  2.23.  In  the  race  for  five-year- 
olds  at  Philadelphia,  he  was  second  to  Governor 
Sprague,  and  behind  him  were  Elsie  Good  and  Lady 
Mills.  The  best  time  was  2.24^.  Blackwood  Jr. 
did  not  trot  up  to  expectations  in  this  race,  and 
McKimmin  was  blamed  for  his  poor  performance. 
His  record  of  2.22J  was  made  in  the  spring  of  1876. 
Blackwood  Jr.  was  somewhat  rough  gaited,  a  fault 

263 


RECOLLECTIONS   OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

probably  due  to  the  training  school,  but  he  was  a 
handsome  horse  and  game.  He  and  Alice  West  thus 
at  an  early  day  attracted  attention  to  Tennessee  as 
the  home  of  the  trotter.  As  a  sire  Blackwood  Jr. 
was  not  a  brilliant  success.  His  daughters  have  done 
more  to  preserve  his  memory  than  his  sons. 


264 


CHAPTER  XXVII 

HARRISON   DURKEE  AND   RICHARD  WEST 

HARRISON  DURKEE,  who  had  made  a  fortune  in 
Wall  Street,  owned  a  tract  of  land  near  Flushing, 
L.  I.,  which  he  decided  to  convert  into  a  breeding 
farm.  One  of  his  early  investments  in  horses  was 
Dictator,  the  brother  of  Dexter.  He  bought  him 
in  1863,  when  he  was  still  by  the  side  of  his  dam, 
and  was  very  proud  of  him,  although  he  could  not 
be  induced  to  put  a  record  on  him. 

Blackwood  trotted  in  1869,  as  a  three-year-old,  in 
2.31,  and  so  many  stories  were  told  of  his  wonderful 
speed  that  he  became  a  sensational  horse  of  the 
country.  As  a  four-year-old  Blackwood  was  in  train- 
ing on  the  Edge  Hill  Farm  track,  owned  by  Colonel 
Richard  West  of  Georgetown,  Ky.,  and  every  breeze 
that  blew  from  the  Blue  Grass  belt  to  the  Atlantic 
seaboard  was  freighted  with  his  name.  He  was 
credited  with  fabulous  speed,  but  the  public  was 
hungry  for  details  as  to  his  breeding.  He  stood 
15.2  and  was  powerfully  built. 

Early  in  1864  D.  Swigert  saw  in  the  pasture  of 
Alexander  Thomas  in  Scott  County,  Ky.,  a  mare 
by  Mambrino  Chief,  to  which  he  took  a  fancy.  He 
paid  $150  for  her,  brought  her  home  and  drove  her 

265 


RECOLLECTIONS   OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

for  two  years  to  his  buggy.  He  bred  her  to  Alex- 
ander's Abdallah,  sire  of  Goldsmith  Maid,  but  she 
did  not  prove  fertile.  He  described  her  in  a  letter 
written  at  Spring  Station,  February  i,  1872,  as 
"  rather  bad-tempered,  and  has  but  one  eye."  In 
the  spring  of  1865  he  bred  her  to  Alexander's  Nor- 
man. As  her  remaining  eye  was  getting  bad,  and, 
fearing  that  she  would  continue  sterile,  he  concluded 
to  get  rid  of  her. 

"  I  took  her,"  he  wrote,  "  with  another  Mambrino 
Chief  mare  I  owned,  with  large  hocks,  called  Dove 
Mambrino,  and  offered  both  on  November  County 
Court  day  in  Lexington  at  public  outcry.  Mr.  D. 
Harris  bought  Fanny,  Blackwood's  dam,  at  auction 
for  $110.  Blackwood  was  foaled  the  following 
spring,  his  mother  being  entirely  blind,  and  I  think 
she  died  soon  after  from  a  fall.  The  dam  of  Fanny 
was  a  dun,  or  yellow  mare,  of  unknown  blood,  and 
was  brought  from  Indiana,  I  understood.  If  this  dun 
mare  was  by  Commodore,  I  never  knew  it,  as  I  was 
very  much  interested  when  I  bought  her  from  Mr. 
Thomas.  He  said  it  was  impossible  to  pedigree  her, 
as  she  was  not  raised  in  this  vicinity.  The  dun  mare 
was  a  fine  roadster  in  those  days.  Fanny  had  only 
fair  trotting  action  as  a  buggy  mare.  She  was  a 
lengthy  mare,  with  broad  hips,  dark  bay,  or  brown,  in 
color." 

Blackwood  was  foaled  the  property  of  Andrew 
Steele,  of  Scott  County,  Ky.  Mr.  Steele  was  a 
lightly-formed,  emotionless  man,  and  a  strict  Metho- 
dist. When  Blackwood  began  to  show  speed  his 

266 


HARRISON    DURKE   AND    RICHARD   WEST 

church  friends  objected  to  his  keeping  a  fast  horse, 
but  he  managed  to  silence  them.  Blackwood  was 
trained  at  Edge  Hill  Farm,  under  the  direction  of 
Colonel  West.  Mr.  Steele,  who  usually  was  as  cool 
as  an  icicle,  drove  over  one  fine  morning  with  some 
of  his  Methodist  friends  to  see  the  horse  take  his 
work.  The  black  wonder  trotted  a  half-mile  in  1.08, 
and  Colonel  West  was  jubilant.  He  looked  for  Mr. 
Steele  to  show  some  emotion,  but  the  little  man  re- 
mained silent,  and  finally  the  Colonel  asked : 

"  What  do  you  think  of  that  for  a  four-year-old?  " 

"  Oh,  tolerably  good,"  drawled  the  owner  of  the 
stallion,  "  but  he  didn't  go  as  fast  as  I  thought  he 
would." 

"Tolerably  good!"  shouted  Colonel  West  in  a 
burst  of  impatience.  "  Why,  you  are  a  queer  man 
not  to  be  satisfied  with  a  four-year-old,  when  he 
shows  you  a  half-mile  at  the  rate  of  a  mile  in  2.16." 

Dexter's  record  at  that  time  was  at  the  top,  and 
it  was  2.17^. 

Mr.  Durkee  purchased  Blackwood,  paying  a  very 
large  price  for  him,  and  when  the  dark  thunderbolt 
arrived  at  Spring  Hill  there  were  scores  of  visitors 
anxious  to  study  his  conformation.  There  was  much 
mysterious  talk  about  starting  the  horse  against  the 
2.17^  of  Dexter,  but  it  came  to  nothing.  The  best 
mile  that  Blackwood  was  driven,  while  owned  by 
Mr.  Durkee,  was  2.23^,  on  his  half-mile  track. 
Blackwood  died  in  1891,  leaving  nine  trotters,  the 
best  of  which  was  Proteine,  2.18.  Ten  of  his  sons 

267 


RECOLLECTIONS   OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

and  twenty-four  of  his  daughters  are  producers  of 
standard  speed. 

A  man  of  splendid  type  was  Richard  West,  and 
he  numbered  among  his  friends  some  of  the  most  in- 
fluential gentlemen  of  the  country.  His  well-trained 
negro  servant,  when  guests  of  prominence  took  seats 
on  the  cool  piazza  of  Edge  Hill,  softly  stole  down 
to  the  moist  bed  where  mint  grew,  and  when  he  re- 
appeared it  was  with  a  silver  bowl  filled  with  cracked 
ice  and  a  cup  of  lump  sugar,  which  he  placed  on  a 
little  table  within  reach.  Then  a  rosier  glow  was  in 
the  atmosphere,  and  the  hours  were  far  from  heavy. 

One  of  the  brood  mares  owned  by  Colonel  West 
was  Dolly,  dam  of  Thorndale,  Director,  and  On- 
ward. Other  mares  that  found  shelter  in  his  stables 
were  Lula,  May  Queen,  and  Midnight,  dam  of 
Jay-eye-see.  Almont  was  at  the  head  of  his  stud 
until  he  sold  him  to  General  W.  T.  Withers,  and  then 
he  leased  Dictator  from  Mr.  Durkee. 

I  recall  an  autumn  morning  at  Edge  Hill  when 
Colonel  West  showed  the  New  York  party,  which 
had  traveled  to  Kentucky  in  a  private  car,  three 
horses  which  subsequently  attracted  no  little  pub- 
lic attention.  One  was  Santa  Claus,  who  then 
was  known  as  Count  Kilrush.  John  W.  Conley 
bought  him,  took  him  to  California,  and  sold  him  to 
P.  A.  Finnegan,  and  later  the  stallion  came  East 
in  the  stable  of  Orrin  A.  Hickok,  and  created  quite 
a  stir,  trotting  to  a  record  of  2.17^.  Lucy  Cuyler, 
a  bay  mare,  foaled  in  1874,  was  the  second  one 
speeded  on  the  track,  and  she  aroused  genuine  en- 

268 


HARRISON    DURKE   AND   RICHARD   WEST 

thusiasm.  She  passed  from  Edge  Hill  into  the  stable 
of  Robert  Bonner,  and  became  a  brood  mare  at  the 
Tarrytown  Farm.  Mr.  Bonner  drove  her  to  wagon 
on  his  track  in  2.15^,  and  his  youngest  son,  Fred- 
erick Bonner,  drove  her  a  half  mile  to  top  wagon  at 
Fleetwood  Park  in  1.05 — two  very  remarkable  per- 
formances. Governor  Leland  Stanford  was  anxious 
at  one  time  to  secure  Lucy  Cuyler  for  breeding  pur- 
poses at  Palo  Alto,  and  he  asked  me  to  strike  up 
a  trade  for  her  with  Mr.  Bonner.  I  did  the  best  I 
could,  but  was  met  with  the  firm  reply  that  the  mare 
was  not  for  sale. 

The  third  one  to  arouse  attention  at  Edge 
Hill  was  Director,  foaled  in  1877,  and  by  Dic- 
tator, out  of  Dolly.  In  October,  1880,  this  black 
horse  trotted  at  Louisville  to  a  record  of  2.30, 
and  then  was  taken  to  California  by  John  W.  Con- 
ley.  As  a  four-year-old  there  was  talk  of  matching 
him  against  the  fast  three-year-old  mare,  Sweetheart, 
owned  by  J.  W.  Mackay,  for  $10,000  a  side,  but, 
after  a  great  deal  of  newspaper  controversy,  the 
match  fell  through.  In  the  summer  of  1883  Di- 
rector came  East  in  the  stable  of  John  A.  Goldsmith, 
and  was  one  of  the  stars  of  the  Grand  Circuit,  de- 
feating such  horses  as  Wilson,  Tony  Newell,  Over- 
man, Clemmie  G.,  and  Fanny  Witherspoon.  Two 
other  sons  of  Director  were  circuit  stars  that  sum- 
mer— Jay-eye-see  and  Phallas. 

Mr.  Durkee  was  one  of  the  first  breeders  to  em- 
phasize the  importance  of  producing  mares  in  the 
stud.  The  dams  of  Lula,  May  Queen,  Ros.alind, 

269 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

Mohawk  Jr.,  Mambrino  Bertie,  and  Bella  were  pur- 
chased at  long  figures  by  him.  Kate  Crockett,  dam 
of  Lula,  2.15,  was  seventeen  years  old  when  she 
became  his  property.  She  died  January  18,  1876, 
when  twenty-two  years  old,  the  result  of  an  acci- 
dent. Lula,  bred  to  George  Wilkes,  produced  Lula 
Wilkes,  and  she,  bred  to  Electioneer,  produced  Ad- 
vertiser, 2.15!,  sire  of  the  champion  yearling  trotter, 
Abdell,  2.23. 

A  short  time  before  Mr.  Durkee  died  he  wrote 
me  a  note,  saying  that  time  hung  heavily  on  him,  and 
asking  me  to  come  and  see  him.  I  found  him  so 
weak  that  he  could  not  walk,  but  his  eyes  were 
bright,  and  the  conversation  quickly  drifted  to  the 
pleasant  hours  spent  at  Spring  Hill.  He  talked  so 
eagerly  of  the  horses  as  to  make  me  forget  for  the 
moment  that  the  shadow  of  death  was  upon  him. 
The  snow  lay  white  on  Fifth  Avenue  and  the  Park 
beyond,  and  he  proposed  a  ride.  Muffled  in  furs 
he  was  carried  to  the  sleigh,  and  the  crisp  air,  as  we 
drove  slowly  through  Central  Park,  fairly  alive  with 
prancing  horses  and  jingling  bells,  brought  color  to 
his  cheeks. 

He  enjoyed  the  ride,  but  was  quite  weary  on  his 
return  to  the  house,  and  soon  after  this  he  entered 
into  absolute  rest.  His  breeding  establishment  was 
sold,  and  the  farm  at  Flushing,  which  had  been  his 
pride,  dropped  back  into  an  atmosphere  of  dullness 
and  obscurity. 


270 


CHAPTER  XXVIII 

J.  MALCOLM  FORBES  AND  FORBES  FARM 

IN  the  latter  part  of  November,  1891,  I  ran  up 
from  New  York  to  Pittsfield  with  Mr.  Robert  Bon- 
ner  to  visit  Allen  Farm.  During  a  carriage  drive 
across  the  beautiful  Berkshire  Hills  Mr.  Bonner 
suddenly  laid  his  hand  on  the  arm  of  Wm.  Russell 
Allen  and  said:  "  If  I  were  as  young  as  you  and 
had  gone  to  the  expense  that  you  have  done  in  es- 
tablishing a  great  breeding  plant,  there  is  one  horse 
I  would  own  regardless  of  cost." 

Everybody  at  that  time  was  talking  about  the  won- 
derful performance  of  a  two-year-old  colt  by  Elec- 
tioneer, who  had  trotted  at  Stockton,  November  10, 
to  high-wheel  sulky  to  a  record  of  2.iof,  and  Mr. 
Allen  remarked,  "  You  mean  Arion." 

"  Yes,"  replied  Mr.  Bonner.  "  His  performance 
is  so  far  ahead  of  any  other  of  its  kind  as  to  place 
him  in  a  class  by  himself.  It  has  been  my  policy 
to  buy  the  best.  They  are  the  cheapest  in  the  end. 
Pride  of  ownership  is  gratified  by  owning,  not  the 
fastest  and  best  trotter  of  Denver,  San  Francisco, 
Kansas  City,  St.  Louis,  Chicago,  Cleveland,  Buffalo, 
Boston,  Philadelphia,  or  New  York,  but  the  undis- 
puted champion  trotter  of  the  world.  The  chief 
star  in  the  constellation  is  the  one  to  which  all  eyes 


turn." 


271 


RECOLLECTIONS   OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

"  I  have  thought  a  good  deal  of  Arion,"  said  Mr. 
Allen,  "  but  I  fear  that  price  will  not  tempt  Gov- 
ernor Stanford.  If  I  should  make  an  offer  for  the 
colt,  what  do  you  think  should  be  my  limit?  " 

Quick  and  sharp  was  the  answer:  "  If  I  had  to 
pay  $150,000  for  him,  I  should  transfer  him  to 
Allen  Farm.  This  is  the  reported  price  paid  for 
Ormonde,  when  Mr.  McDonough  placed  him  at  the 
head  of  his  modest  breeding  establishment  in  Cali- 
fornia. Arion  should  prove  as  valuable  to  you  as 
Ormonde  to  McDonough.  You  can  spend,  as  I  have 
found  out  by  experience,  more  than  $150,000  in 
purchasing  prospects  which  never  rise  to  the  top. 
This  is  why  I  say  that  the  very  best,  regardless  of 
cost,  is  the  cheapest  in  the  end." 

It  was  evident  that  the  earnest  words  of  Mr. 
Bonner  had  impressed  Mr.  Allen,  but,  while  the  pro- 
prietor of  Allen  Farm  hesitated,  another  Massa- 
chusetts breeder  promptly  acted.  Mr.  J.  Malcolm 
Forbes  wrote  to  Leland  Stanford,  who  then  repre- 
sented California  in  the  United  States  Senate,  asking 
him  to  put  a  price  on  Arion.  The  curt  reply  from 
Washington  was  that  it  would  be  useless  to  price  the 
colt,  because  there  was  no  desire  to  sell,  and  that  no 
one  would  pay  the  price,  if  one  should  be  made.  Mr. 
Forbes  was  not  silenced.  He  closed  his  second  letter 
with  the  words : 

"  I  asked  you  what  price  you  would  put  on  Arion. 
Please  reply." 

272 


WILLIAM  RUSSELL  ALLEN 


J.    MALCOLM    FORBES   AND   FORBES    FARM 

The  answer  was  that  the  colt  would  not  be  sold 
for  less  than  $125,000.  Mr.  Forbes  went  imme- 
diately to  Washington  and  claimed  the  colt,  with 
the  proviso  that  he  should  be  allowed  to  go  to  Cali- 
fornia and  look  Arion  over  before  paying  the  money. 
This  reasonable  privilege  was  accorded  by  Senator 
Stanford,  and  Mr.  Forbes  took  the  train  for  San 
Francisco,  carefully  examined  Arion  at  Palo  Alto, 
and  made  out  a  check  for  $125,000  to  the  order  of 
Leland  Stanford.  The  sensational  sale  was  pub- 
lished throughout  the  world,  and  there  was  over- 
whelming desire  to  study  the  conformation  of  Arion 
when  he  was  transferred  from  Palo  Alto  to  Forbes 
Farm.  His  stud  fee  for  1892  was  fixed  at  $2500,  and 
it  was  eagerly  paid,  Mr.  Allen  being  one  of  the  first 
to  engage  a  mare  to  the  young  stallion.  This  was 
Elista,  a  daughter  of  Green  Mountain  Maid,  dam  of 
Electioneer,  sire  of  Arion. 

It  was  at  the  Lexington  meeting  in  October,  1891, 
that  a  quiet-appearing  gentleman  opened  negotia- 
tions for  the  purchase  of  Nancy  Hanks,  a  bay  mare 
then  five  years  old,  by  Happy  Medium,  dam  Nancy 
Lee  by  Dictator,  and  who  had  trotted,  September  30 
that  year,  to  a  record  of  2.09.  Sunol,  who  was  of 
the  same  age,  was  then  owned  by  Robert  Bonner,  and 
the  previous  season,  when  each  was  four  years  old, 
there  had  been  much  discussion  in  the  public  prints 
about  the  relative  speed  of  the  two  mares.  It  was 
well  known  that  Mr.  Bonner  never  matched  his 
horses,  but,  as  Sunol's  racing  qualities  were  controlled 

273 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

by  Senator  Stanford,  I  had  authority  and  felt  at 
liberty  to  make  a  proposition.  It  was  to  trot  Sunol 
against  Nancy  Hanks  for  not  less  than  $10,000  a 
side,  winner  to  take  all.  This  silenced  the  Nancy 
Hanks  boomers,  but  my  interest  in  the  daughter  of 
Happy  Medium  and  Nancy  Lee  did  not  abate. 
After  Nancy  Hanks  had  trotted  in  2.09  as  a  five- 
year-old,  Sunol  reduced  the  five-year-old  record  to 
2.o8i.  The  sale  of  Nancy  Hanks  at  Lexington  to 
J.  Malcolm  Forbes  was  one  of  the  sensational  topics 
of  the  meeting,  and,  when  her  purchaser,  Mr. 
Forbes,  was  pointed  out  to  strangers,  there  was  much 
rubbing  of  eyes.  It  was  difficult  to  believe  that  the 
quiet,  scholarly-looking  man  was  a  trotting-horse  en- 
thusiast. In  this  respect  he  was  the  antithesis  of 
many  other  prominent  owners  of  trotters.  The  price 
paid  for  Nancy  Hanks  was  a  long  one,  and  I  was 
gratified  to  see  her  march  steadily  to  the  throne. 
During  the  season  of  1892,  drawing  a  bicycle  sulky, 
she  reduced  the  record  to  2.07^,  to  2.05^,  and  to  2.04. 
The  latter  performance  was  made  at  Terre  Haute, 
September  28,  1892.  I  was  in  Boston  at  the  time 
and  had  made  an  engagement  to  meet  Mr.  Forbes 
at  his  farm  early  in  the  morning  of  September  29. 
Mr.  C.  J.  Hamlin  went  to  Readville  with  me,  and 
from  there  we  drove  to  Canton.  The  sun,  which 
was  rising  above  the  crest  of  Blue  Hill,  was  convert- 
ing thousands  of  dewdrops  into  diamonds,  when  Mr. 
Forbes  stepped  from  the  office  of  the  farm  and  bade 
us  welcome.  His  manner  was  so  serene  that  we  could 

274 


J.    MALCOLM    FORBES   AND    FORBES    FARM 

not  resist  asking  if  he  had  received  a  telegram  from 
Doble.  He  said  no,  and  added:  "Why  do  you 
ask?" 

Mr.  Hamlin  replied:  "  Is  it  possible  that  you  are 
ignorant  of  what  all  the  world  is  now  talking,  the 
great  achievement  of  Nancy  Hanks?  " 

Mr.  Forbes  simply  removed  the  yachting  cap 
which  shaded  his  face,  and  looked  at  us  with  ques- 
tioning eyes. 

"Nancy  Hanks  trotted  in  2.04  at  Terre  Haute 
yesterday,"  I  remarked. 

"  You  bring  me  good  news,"  said  Mr.  Forbes, 
and  he  calmly  led  the  way  to  the  office,  and  placed 
before  us  a  biscuit  and  a  glass  of  rare  old  sherry. 

Mr.  Hamlin  was  amazed  at  the  lack  of  enthusiasm 
shown  by  an  owner  whose  mare  had  won  the  cham- 
pionship crown  of  the  world,  and  exclaimed:  u  You 
do  not  seem  to  warm  up  much  over  the  news." 

The  reply  was  calmly  courteous:  "  I  am  gratified, 
but  you  surely  do  not  expect  me  to  turn  a  somer- 
sault." 

Mr.  Forbes  evidently  had  great  control  of  his 
feelings  and  this  probably  kept  his  judgment  from 
going  astray.  I  have  before  me  the  catalogue  in 
which  I  made  memoranda  as  we  strolled  over  the 
farm.  In  this  farm,  at  the  base  of  Blue  Hill  three 
miles  from  Readville,  there  were  130  acres.  The 
buildings  were  painted  orange.  We  saw  Arion  jog 
on  the  three-quarter  mile  track,  and  I  quote  the  note 
which  refers  to  him : 

275 


RECOLLECTIONS   OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

"Arion,  15.1;  fine  head,  good  countenance ;  qual- 
ity, rangy,  blood-like,  and  light  on  his  feet.  Wears 
quarter  boots." 

Scott  McCoy  was  the  man  in  charge.  One  of 
the  brood  mares  was  Nellie  May  by  Electioneer,  dam 
Lady  Ellen,  the  producing  daughter  of  Carr's  Mam- 
brino;  second  dam  Ida  May  Jr.  by  Owen  Dale; 
third  dam  Ida  May  by  Belmont  (California),  and 
fourth  dam  by  Red  Buck  by  Bertrand.  Another 
brood  mare  was  Titania  by  Electioneer,  dam  Ella 
by  Sultan;  second  dam  Eileen  Ogle  by  Norfolk, 
thoroughbred  son  of  Lexington.  Nearly  every  mare 
reserved  for  breeding  ran  directly  to  the  thorough- 
bred foundation,  showing  plainly  the  drift  of  the 
mind  of  Mr.  Forbes.  The  celebrated  gray  geld- 
ing, Jack,  2.12!,  by  Pilot  Medium,  out  of  Carrie 
Russell  by  Magna  Charta,  was  in  the  catalogue,  but, 
in  the  handwriting  of  Mr.  Forbes,  he  was  marked 
"  Sold."  Doubtless  it  was  the  memory  of  Jack  which 
later  suggested  the  purchase  of  Peter  the  Great,  an- 
other son  of  Pilot  Medium,  for  use  at  Forbes  Farm. 
The  office,  in  which  we  sipped  sherry  and  discussed 
breeding,  was  large  and  bright,  and  pictures  of 
yachts  and  horses  adorned  its  walls.  Mr.  Forbes 
then  owned  the  Puritan,  the  successful  defender  of 
the  America's  Cup  in  1885,  against  the  challenge  of 
the  Genesta.  Later,  he  sold  this  fast  boat,  and 
purchased  the  Volunteer.  From  his  youth  up  he  took 
delight  in  racing  boats,  and  his  influence  in  yacht- 
ing circles  was  as  wholesome  as  in  trotting  affairs. 

276 


J.  MALCOLM  FORBES 


J.    MALCOLM    FORBES   AND   FORBES    FARM 

John  Malcolm  Forbes  was  born  in  Milton,  Mass., 
February  2,  1847,  an^  he  was  a  partner  in  the  well- 
known  firm  of  J.  M.  Forbes  &  Co.,  founded  by 
his  father.  He  was  a  man  of  large  affairs  in  every 
sense  of  the  word,  and  his  influence  added  to  the 
prestige  of  the  trotting  turf.  A  gap  was  created 
in  the  ranks  of  the  clean  and  loyal  sportsmen  of 
America  when  he  died  at  his  home  in  Milton,  Feb- 
ruary 19,  1904. 

Mr.  Forbes  once  said  to  me  that  the  man  who  paid 
a  very  long  price  for  a  stallion  imposed  something 
of  a  handicap  upon  himself.  People  expected  more 
of  the  horse  than  he  could  accomplish  in  the  stud, 
and  were  disposed  to  criticise  him  when  he  did  not 
rise  to  their  sanguine  expectations.  Arion  has  proved 
himself  a  sire  of  extreme  speed,  and  had  less  money 
been  paid  for  him  the  critics  would  have  been  more 
tolerant,  because  an  impossible  standard  would  not 
have  been  erected  for  his  measurement. 

I  find  scores  of  letters  from  Mr.  Forbes  in  my 
filebook,  and  I  shall  reproduce  two  of  these  to  show 
the  bent  of  his  mind.  Under  date  of  January  31, 
1899,  he  wrote: 

"  DEAR  MR.  BUSBEY:  I  have  yours  of  the  3Oth, 
and  I  think  that  I  saw  in  your  paper  an  account  of 
my  taking  an  interest  in  French  coachers  and  hack- 
neys. I  wish  to  disclaim  taking  the  slightest  in- 
terest in  the  latter.  I  have  never  known  a  good 
horseman  to  say  a  good  word  for  the  hackney.  There 
are  many  horsey  men  who  talk  and  think  differently, 

277 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF    MEN   AND    HORSES 

but  the  real  judge  of  a  horse  won't  have  them  at 
any  price.  My  experiment  is  on  a  very  limited  scale, 
as  I  have  only  two  French  coach  fillies.  Whether  I 
have  more  depends  on  how  I  like  these.  I  intend 
to  race  Bingen,  but  he  has  got  to  get  within  Direc- 
tum's  class  before  we  talk  of  Alix.  I  bought  Peter 
the  Great  the  other  day,  and  he  will  arrive  at  the 
farm  to-morrow.  I  guess  he  is  quite  a  good  colt. 
"Yours  truly, 

"  J.  MALCOLM  FORBES." 

When  Peter  the  Great  occupied  a  box  stall  at 
Forbes  Farm,  three  of  the  fastest  stallions  in  the 
country  then  found  shelter  there — Bingen,  2.o6i, 
Peter  the  Great,  2.07^,  and  Arion,  2.07!.  It  was  a 
grand  trio.  When  Bingen  was  a  competitor  in  classes 
at  the  Boston  Horse  Show  I  was  one  of  the  judges 
who  affixed  the  blue  to  his  headstall  and  lifted  him 
into  championship  honors.  Mr.  Forbes  was  grati- 
fied, but  did  not  say  much.  Some  of  the  critics  found 
fault  with  the  official  decisions,  but  it  was  not  long 
before  they  were  compelled  to  confess  error  of  judg- 
ment. Under  date  of  January  30,  1901,  Mr.  Forbes 
wrote  me: 

"I  see  that  some  of  the  papers  are  trying  to 
put  the  professional  judge  question  to  the  front.  In 
theory  it  will  be  all  right,  but  in  practice  you  could 
not  get  the  men  who  are  honest,  and  at  the  same 
time  capable.  You  and  I  know  what  pressure  would 
be  brought  and  how  the  professional  judges,  travel- 
ing through  the  circuit,  and  living  with  the  drivers 
and  the  pool-sellers,  would  find  it  almost  impossible 


J.   MALCOLM   FORBES   AND   FORBES   FARM 

to  act  independently.  Under  the  present  system, 
though  we  have  seen  bad  blunders  in  judgment,  but 
through  the  circuit  at  least,  I  believe  that  the  stand 
has  been  very  generally  honored.  At  any  rate,  un- 
der the  present  system,  the  standard  on  the  trotting 
tracks  has  improved  very  much  in  the  past  twenty 
years,  and  I  think  we  had  better  let  well  enough 
alone.  One  can  stand  losing  a  race  on  its  merits, 
but,  as  soon  as  I  feel  that  the  judges  and  the  starter 
are  working  in  favor  of  any  interest,  rather  than  fair 
play,  I  shall  stop  racing." 


279 


CHAPTER  XXIX 

BREEDING   FARMS   IN  THE  BERKSHIRES 

I  KNEW  Charles  H.  Kerner  for  more  than  a  third 
of  a  century,  and  from  first  to  last  he  was  an 
enthusiastic  lover  of  the  trotting  horse.  He  was  a 
member  of  visiting  delegations  to  Kentucky  when 
trotting  was  in  its  infancy  there,  and  he  struggled 
manfully  to  live  the  pace  set  by  companions  of 
greater  physical  endowment  than  himself.  He  was 
one  of  the  privileged  group  at  Stony  Ford  when  that 
breeding  establishment  commanded  national  atten- 
tion, and  he  often  stood  with  uplifted  glass  in  the 
smoking-room  and  saw  the  Old  Year  pass,  and  felt 
the  first  beat  of  the  pulse  of  the  New  Year.  He  was 
a  regular  road  rider,  and  seldom  missed  an  afternoon 
call  at  Gabe  Case's  or  John  Barry's,  when  in  town, 
and  he  felt  certain  that  George  B.  Alley,  Shepherd 
F.  Knapp,  David  Bonner,  Lawrence  Kip,  and  Albert 
C.  Hall  would  be  there.  He  kept  his  secrets  so  well 
that  he  often  surprised  us,  when  driving  through  the 
country,  by  asking  us  to  stop  while  he  climbed  over 
a  fence  to  inspect  a  brood  mare  or  colt  grazing  in 
the  pasture,  and  which  he  was  forced  to  admit  was 
his  property.  When  in  jovial  mood,  Alley  Bonner 
>vpuld  turn  to  him  and  say:  "Charley,  here  is  a, 

280 


BREEDING   FARMS   IN   THE   BERKSHIRES 

lane  leading  God  knows  where,  but  I  have  no  doubt 
that  at  the  end  of  it  we  will  find  a  horse  of  some 
description  owned  by  you." 

A  summer  at  Great  Harrington  in  the  Berkshires 
so  pleased  him  that  he  purchased  a  tract  of  land 
there  and  converted  it  into  a  stock  farm.  Then  he 
gathered  his  trotters  from  the  four  corners  of  the 
land,  and  all  the  stalls  were  quickly  filled.  He  saw 
Alcantara  trot  as  a  four-year-old  in  Kentucky,  and 
admired  him.  When  this  son  of  George  Wilkes  and 
Alma  Mater  was  transferred  from  Lexington  to  Lee 
by  Elizur  Smith,  he  paid  frequent  visits  to  him,  and 
his  admiration  for  the  horse  increased.  He  pur- 
chased the  chestnut  colt  Leonatus  by  Alcantara,  dam 
Serene  by  Nutwood;  second  dam  Silence  by  Alex- 
ander's Abdallah,  and  third  dam  Woodbine,  dam  of 
Woodford  Mambrino  and  Wedgewood,  and  then 
buttonholed  you  and  wanted  to  know  how  you  could 
beat  his  blood  lines.  Leonatus  grew  into  an  im- 
pressive horse  of  16  hands,  and  I  often  think  of  an 
afternoon  in  the  summer  of  1895  when  Mr.  Kerner 
burst  into  my  office  to  tell  me  of  the  contest  in  which 
the  six-year-old  stallion  took  a  record  of  2.17^  in 
the  fifth  heat  of  a  winning  race.  Mr.  Kernels  eyes 
blazed  as  the  words  dropped  rapidly  from  his  lips, 
and  each  point  was  emphasized  by  a  slap  on  the 
shoulder  or  the  knee.  When  he  rose  to  go  he  trem- 
bled like  a  leaf  shaken  by  the  wind,  and  it  was  evi- 
dent that  the  wave  of  excitement  had  weakened  him. 
I  sat  in  the  box  of  Colonel  Lawrence  Kip,  at  the 

281 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

November  Horse  Show  in  Madison  Square  Garden 
the  same  year,  with  Mr.  Kerner,  and  other  friends. 
Leonatus  was  one  of  the  horses  being  judged  in  the 
stallion  class,  and  his  owner  was  so  nervous  that  we 
began  to  chaff  him. 

"  What  is  the  matter  with  those  judges,"  he  ex- 
claimed. '*  They  are  slower  than  cold  molasses.  I 
made  up  my  mind  long  ago.  There  is  but  one  thing 
to  do,  and  it  should  be  done  quickly." 

"  Probably  they  do  not  see  things  as  you  see 
them,  Charley,"  remarked  Mr.  Backman.  "  Give 
them  more  time.  Can't  you  wait?  " 

"  Wait !  Oh,  yes,  I  can  wait,  but  if  they  do  not 
get  a  move  on  them  I  and  everybody  else  will  be 
dead  before  the  prizes  are  awarded." 

A  moment  after  this  Leonatus  was  led  out  from 
the  line  and  the  blue  rosette  affixed  to  his  headstall. 
Mr.  Kerner  sprang  to  his  feet  and  wildly  shouted: 

"  What  did  I  tell  you,  boys?  You  can't  beat  him! 
Those  judges  know  a  horse  when  they  see  him." 

It  was  a  happy  moment  for  Charles  H.  Kerner, 
and  he  left  us  with  the  elastic  step  of  boyhood.  In 
October,  1897,  Mr-  Kerner  was  one  of  the  New 
York  delegation  at  Lexington  when  Rilma  won  the 
Transylvania.  Bush  was  a  competitor,  and  her 
owner  walked  on  air,  as  it  were,  after  she  had  won 
the  third  heat  in  2.09^.  He  nursed  hopes  of  victory, 
but  was  doomed  to  disappointment,  and  took  the 
train  for  home  the  next  day.  Bush  was  a  very  game 
trotter  by  Alcyone,  out  of  Lady  Garfield  by  Young 

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BREEDING   FARMS    IN    THE   BERKSHIRES 

Jupiter,  and  Mr.  Kerner  was  exceedingly  fond  of 
her.  Although  small,  she  was  able  to  carry  her 
speed  through  contests  of  divided  heats.  Her  first 
foal,  a  black  colt  born  1904,  is  by  King  Edward,  son 
of  Leonatus  and  Grey  Dawn,  a  mare  that  aroused 
Mr.  Kerner  to  enthusiastic  speech.  Grey  Dawn  was 
bred  by  Robert  Bonner,  and  her  sire  was  Startle 
(son  of  Hambletonian  and  Lizzie  Walker  by  Seely's 
American  Star),  and  her  dam  was  Daybreak  by 
Harold  (sire  of  Maud  S.),  and  her  second  dam  was 
Midnight,  the  dam  of  Jay-eye-see.  As  Alcyone,  sire 
of  Bush,  and  Alcantara,  sire  of  Leonatus,  were 
brothers,  the  blood  lines  of  the  black  colt  are  among 
the  richest  in  the  Trotting  Register.  I  draw  atten- 
tion to  him  merely  for  the  purpose  of  illustrating 
the  Kerner  idea  of  breeding.  The  name  of  the  farm 
was  Forkhurst,  and  the  view  from  the  crown  oc- 
cupied by  the  residence  is  one  of  the  finest  in  the 
Berkshires.  Mr.  Kerner  was  in  poor  health  for  sev- 
eral years  preceding  his  death,  and  his  face  ceased 
to  be  seen  in  public  places.  The  curtain  was  rung 
down  for  him  in  June,  1904. 

It  is  but  a  short  drive  from  Great  Barrington  to 
Lee,  and  it  was  at  the  latter  place  that  Elizur  Smith 
established  Highlawn  Stock  Farm,  long  before  Mr. 
Kerner  began  to  erect  buildings  at  Forkhurst.  Mr. 
Smith  was  partial  to  the  blood  of  George  Wilkes, 
and  he  went  to  Kentucky  and  purchased  two  sons  of 
this  stallion,  Alcantara,  foaled  in  1876,  and  his  full 
brother  Alcyone,  foaled  in  1877.  The  dam  was 

283 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF    MEN   AND    HORSES 

Alma  Mater  by  Mambrino  Patchen,  second  dam 
Estella,  thoroughbred  daughter  of  imp.  Australian. 
Alcantara  trotted  to  a  four-year-old  record  of  2.23 
at  Louisville,  and  Alcyone,  who  was  a  smaller,  but 
better  built,  horse  than  his  brother,  retired  with  a  rec- 
ord of  2.27,  although  he  had  shown  much  faster  than 
this  in  his  work.  Mares  of  producing  capacity  were 
selected  for  union  with  these  horses,  and  it  was  not 
long  before  visitors  from  all  parts  of  the  country  were 
attracted  to  Highlawn.  Mr.  Smith  was  a  thoughtful, 
unobtrusive  man,  and  the  details  of  the  management 
of  the  farm  were  left  to  his  agent,  J.  G.  Davis.  I 
quote  from  a  letter  written  to  me  by  Mr.  Davis 
February  3,  1886: 

"  Our  stock  each  year  will  be  handled  at  home 
the  first  part  of  the  season  and  sent  to  Springfield 
to  put  on  the  finish.  No  one  has  more  quality  in 
their  mares.  We  are  not  wedded  to  any  particular 
strain.  Have  selected  from  the  producing  strains 
of  the  best  families.  We  have  paid  particular  atten- 
tion to  their  nerve  force,  believing  that  the  foal 
takes  its  gait  from  the  sire,  and  its  energy  or  will 

Eower  from  the  dam.  No  mare  can  remain  here  un- 
;ss  she  has  individual  merit,  and  speed  has  cropped 
out  often  on  the  maternal  side  of  her  ancestors. 
You  know  the  history  of  our  stallions.  Some  people 
could  not  imagine  why  we  wanted  two  brothers.  The 
fact  of  owning  one  was  the  reason  for  owning  the 
other.  Should  one  die  we  have  the  other.  High- 
lawn,  with  its  outside  pasturing,  now  contains  about 
looo  acres,  and  700  acres  are  in  a  high  state  of  cul- 
tivation. The  farm  is  divided  into  numerous  small 

284 


BREEDING    FARMS    IN    THE   BERKSHIRES 

lots  so  that  too  many  valuable  mares  will  not  be 
turned  together." 

The  practical  horseman  crops  out  in  every  line  of 
this  letter.  The  sneers  leveled  at  Alma  Mater,  be- 
cause her  second  dam  was  thoroughbred,  did  not 
cloud  her  career.  In  November,  1884,  Mr.  P.  S. 
Talbert  wrote  to  me  from  Inwood  Breeding  and 
Training  Stock  Farm,  Lexington,  Ky. : 

"  Alcantara  could  undoubtedly  trot  in  2.17  as  a 
four-year-old,  and  probably  would  have  taken  a  rec- 
ord as  fast  as  that  had  it  not  been  for  his  accident. 
Only  a  few  days  before  hurting  himself  he  trotted 
a  half  mile  in  1.06,  last  quarter  in  32  seconds,  and 
everyone  knows  he  was  a  stayer.  Alcyone  trotted 
this  year,  after  a  season  in  the  stud,  and  with  only 
six  weeks'  preparation,  a  mile  in  2.22^.  Notwith- 
standing her  running  foolishness  I  guess  Wallace  and 
the  rest  of  the  opponents  of  thoroughbred  blood  in 
the  trotter  would  like  to  have  a  few  like  Alma  Mater. 
My  father  was  one  of  the  first  to  advocate  the  thor- 
oughbred as  a  foundation.  The  first  two  animals  he 
bred  were  Avondale,  sold  as  a  yearling  for  $3000,  and 
Mary  Mambrino,  dam  of  Elvira,  2.18^.  The  per- 
formances of  Maud  S.,  Jay-eye-see,  Elvira,  Silver- 
one,  and  others  show  that  he  was  right." 

Mary  Mambrino  was  by  Mambrino  Patchen,  out 
of  Belle  Wagner,  thoroughbred  daughter  of  Embry's 
Wagner,  by  the  four-mile  race  horse  Wagner. 

I  have  another  letter  before  me,  written  by  P.  S. 
Talbert,  December  n,  1885,  from  which  I  quote: 

285 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

"  In  looking  over  some  old  papers  I  came  across 
a  copy  of  a  letter  written  by  my  father  six  or  seven 
years  ago,  an  extract  from  which  may  be  of  interest 
to  you.  He  had  been  ridiculed  for  buying  a  filly 
from  a  thoroughbred  mare  and  expecting  to  raise 
trotters  from  her.  The  following  is  his  answer:  '  I 
bought  her  (Alma  Mater)  at  the  time  and  because 
the  Australians  were  showing  more  speed  and  bot- 
tom at  the  running  gait  than  any  other.  It  is  per- 
fectly competent  for  a  pacing  mare  to  transmit  speed 
at  a  changed  gait,  but  for  a  running-bred  mare  to 
produce  speed  at  the  trotting  gait — well,  that  is  sim- 
ply ridiculous,  according  to  many  who  ought  to  know 
better.'  Where  are  the  critics  now,  since  the  once 
despised  *  running-bred  weed'  has  become  famous? 
In  your  article  on  first  decision  (at  the  National 
Horse  Show)  over  Mambrino  King  you  give  last 
year's  records  of  the  produce  of  Alma  Mater.  One 
or  two  changes  should  be  made.  Almeta  has  lowered 
her  record  to  2.32^,  and  I  am  reliably  informed  that 
she  has  trotted  in  a  race  in  2.24!.  Alline  has  trotted, 
timed  by  half  a  dozen  competent  timers,  in  2.26^. 
Alcyone  has  thirteen  foals  three  years  old  this  year, 
only  four  of  which,  so  far  as  I  know,  have  been 
trained,  namely,  Silverone,  2.24^,  timed  against 
Patron  in  a  race  in  2.20,  and  trotted  a  last  half  on 
the  outside  of  Washington  Park  track  (Chicago)  in 
i.o6J;  lona,  2.38!,  timed  in  Gasconade  Stake,  St. 
Louis,  in  2.24^;  Dark  Night,  2.39!,  timed  in  Ken- 
tucky Stake  in  2.30,  and  Allehayone,  record  over  a 
half-mile  track  2.42^.  Three  three-year-olds  to  trot 
publicly  in  2.30,  out  of  a  total  of  thirteen,  is  a 
pretty  large  percentage.  Unless  my  memory  fails 
me,  Alcyone  has  been  shown  for  roadster  and  trotting 
stallion  about  twenty  times,  suffering  defeat  only  at  the 

286 


BREEDING   FARMS   IN   THE   BERKSHIRES 

hands  of  Nutwood,  a  decision  that  called  forth  a 
good  deal  of  unfavorable  criticism.  He  has  de- 
feated all  the  well-known  Kentucky  show  stallions." 

Time  has  demonstrated  that  Alcyone,  all  things 
considered,  was  one  of  the  very  greatest  of  trotting 
stallions.  His  blood  is  breeding  on  with  remark- 
able force. 

Under  date  of  August  23,  1887,  Mr.  Wm.  H. 
Fearing  wrote  me  from  Newminster  Stud,  Jobstown, 
N.  J.: 

"  I  am  sorry  to  announce  the  death  of  my  mare 
Estella  by  Australian.  She  died  at  Woodburn  Au- 
gust 20,  from  blood  poisoning,  and  was  in  foal  at 
that  time  by  Harold,  sire  of  Maud  S.  The  mare 
leaves  a  yearling  filly  (Ora  Mater)  by  Belmont  and 
a  suckling  colt,  three  months  old  also  by  Belmont." 

Australian  was  a  richly-bred  horse  and  a  noted  sire 
of  race  horses.  Fanny  G.,  the  dam  of  Estella,  was  by 
imp.  Margrave,  out  of  Lancess  by  Lance,  son  of  the 
great  four-mile  race  horse,  American  Eclipse.  The 
running  blood  in  Alma  Mater  was  of  the  most  vig- 
orous kind,  and  her  success  in  producing  trotters 
and  the  progenitors  of  trotters  strengthens  the  opin- 
ion that  speed  can  be  utilized  at  either  gait.  If  A.  S. 
Talbert,  who  bred  Alcyone,  or  Elizur  Smith,  whose 
property  he  died,  had  witnessed  the  triumphs  of 
Sweet  Marie  in  the  Grand  Circuit  of  1904-1906, 
and  especially  her  victory  in  the  bitterly  contested 

287 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

Transylvania  at  Lexington,  his  face  would  have 
flushed  with  pride.  The  once  derided  Alma  Mater 
outranks  thousands  of  intensely  trotting-bred  mares, 
and  her  rank  as  a  transmitter  of  resolute  speed  stead- 
ily grows.  When  Elizur  Smith  died  there  was  no 
one  to  carry  on  the  breeding  stud  at  Highlawn,  and 
a  dispersal  sale  was  held.  At  this  sale  Alcantara  was 
purchased  by  A.  A.  Bonner,  and  his  court,  by  ar- 
rangement with  Mr.  Backman,  was  transferred  to 
Stony  Ford.  Alcantara  died  in  October,  1906. 

One  of  the  early  Berkshire  breeders  was  Picker- 
ing Clark  of  Pittsfield.  A  sample  brood  mare  owned 
by  him  was  Cream  by  Messenger  Duroc,  son  of  Rys- 
dyk's  Hambletonian,  dam  Lady  Barnum  by  Rysdyk's 
Hambletonian,  son  of  Abdallah;  second  dam  Dolly 
by  Spaulding's  Abdallah,  son  of  Abdallah;  third 
dam  by  Rob  Roy,  son  of  Mambrino  by  Messenger, 
and  fourth  dam  by  Messenger  Duroc,  son  of  Duroc. 
Although  this  mare  traced  directly  in  every  line  to 
imp.  Messenger,  she  accomplished  nothing.  The 
best  of  the  brood  mares  owned  by  Mr.  Clark  was 
Gretchen  by  Chosroes,  son  of  Rysdyk's  Hambleto- 
nian, dam  Lady  Fallis  by  Seely's  American  Star.  She 
is  the  dam  of  three  with  trotting  records,  the  best  of 
which  is  Clingstone,  2.14,  who  once  was  known  as 
the  "  demon  "  of  the  track.  He  had  a  great  flight 
of  speed  and  he  carried  this  speed  with  determina- 
tion. Rysdyk,  the  sire  of  Clingstone,  was  by  Rys- 
dyk's Hambletonian,  dam  Lady  Duke,  thoroughbred 
daughter  of  Lexington.  The  unprejudiced  saw  in 

288 


BREEDING   FARMS    IN    THE   BERKSHIRES 

Clingstone  another  illustration  of  the  value  of  speed- 
sustaining  blood  in  the  trotter. 

Other  breeding  establishments  at  Pittsfield  were 
those  of  Walter  Cutting,  W.  F.  Milton,  and  William 
Pollock,  but  all  of  the  Berkshire  breeding  farms 
were  dwarfed  by  the  venture  of  Wm.  Russell  Allen. 
This  gentleman  spent  hundreds  of  thousands  of  dol- 
lars on  Allen  Farm,  and  he  gathered  his  stallions  and 
brood  mares  from  the  cream  of  such  renowned  estab- 
lishments as  Stony  Ford,  Woodburn,  Indian  Hill, 
Palo  Alto,  and  San  Mateo  Stock  Farm.  His  special 
aim  was  to  secure  the  immediate  descendants  of  such 
great  brood  mares  as  Green  Mountain  Maid,  Miss 
Russell,  Clara,  Belle,  Beautiful  Bells,  Vara,  Water- 
witch,  Primrose,  Fleetwing,  Woodbine,  Sable,  and 
Young  Portia,  and  price  did  not  stop  him.  The  clus- 
ter of  gems  was  awe-inspiring,  and  visitors  from  all 
parts  of  the  civilized  world  took  the  trains  for  Pitts- 
field  and  passed  through  the  massive  arch  of  sye- 
nite granite  which  guards  the  approach  to  the  stables 
at  Allen  Farm.  I  recall  an  excursion  there  which 
was  the  talk  of  the  neighborhood.  Mr.  Allen  re- 
quested me  to  charter  a  private  car,  stock  it,  and 
bring  in  it  a  prominent  delegation  from  New  York. 
The  June  rose  was  in  bloom  and  the  Berkshire  hills, 
always  charming,  never  looked  more  beautiful.  A 
big  six-horse  coach  met  us  at  the  railway  station  and 
took  us  to  the  farm,  where  three  hours  were  given 
to  the  horses,  and  then  we  drove  to  the  top  of  a 
mountain,  over  a  road  especially  built  for  the  occasion, 

289 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF    MEN   AND    HORSES 

and  lunched  under  canvas.  The  dishes  were  pre- 
pared by  Delmonico,  and  the  wines  were  of  the 
choicest  vintage.  The  entertainment  was  as  novel 
as  unexpected,  and  the  reputation  of  Allen  Farm 
for  elegant  hospitality  was  thoroughly  established. 
At  that  time  the  laurels  gained  by  Kremlin  in  his 
battle  with  Stamboul  for  the  stallion  crown  were 
fresh,  and  the  horse  was  driven  an  eighth  on  the 
private  track  in  14!  seconds,  a  wonderful  flight  of 
speed  for  so  early  in  the  season.  Every  visitor  held 
his  watch,  and  was  enthusiastic  over  the  performance. 
Among  modest  breeders  at  Great  Barrington  were 
Parley  A.  Russell  and  Wm.  L.  Brown.  Although 
the  winters  are  cold  in  the  Berkshires,  the  weather 
does  not  violently  fluctuate,  and  the  sweet  grass  of 
summer,  with  the  climb  from  valley  to  crest  of  hill, 
is  conducive  to  muscular  growth.  The  horses  reared 
in  the  pure  and  invigorating  atmosphere  have  con- 
stitution, and  are  up  to  the  requirements  of  severe 
speed  tests.  The  homes  of  luxury  and  fashion  adorn 
the  hills  around  Great  Barrington,  Lee,  Stockbridge, 
Lenox,  and  Pittsfield,  and  the  current  of  refined  life 
flows  vigorously  from  season  to  season.  It  was  not 
always  thus.  A  third  of  a  century  ago  an  intel- 
lectual and  scholarly  gentleman  of  leisure,  Charles 
Astor  Bristed,  of  fragrant  memory,  sent  me  a  series 
of  letters  descriptive  of  the  glories  of  the  Berkshires, 
and  after  their  publication  the  golden  tide  began  to 
rise  at  Lenox. 


290 


CHAPTER   XXX 

HENRY   N.    SMITH   AND   OTHER  BREEDERS 

THE  first  time  I  exchanged  words  with  Henry  N. 
Smith  was  in  the  sixties,  and  at  Fashion  Course.  I 
had  driven  over  to  the  track  with  Wm.  Rutter  to 
hold  a  watch  on  the  stallion  Garibaldi  by  Rysdyk's 
Hambletonian,  out  of  a  black  mare  called  Topsy. 
Mr.  Rutter's  son,  William,  rode  the  handsome  horse, 
and  we  timed  him  along  the  back  stretch  a  fast 
quarter  for  that  day.  Mr.  Smith  looked  at  my  watch 
and  exclaimed:  "I  will  bet  $1000  that  he  cannot 
trot  the  last  quarter  as  fast  as  that."  This  was  taken 
as  a  reflection  on  the  correctness  of  the  timing,  and 
the  reply  was  far  from  pacific.  Before  we  left  the 
track  we  learned  that  the  first  quarter  pole  had  been 
moved  some  yards  nearer  the  half-mile  pole  than 
was  regular,  the  object  being  on  the  part  of  a  dealer 
to  show  a  customer  a  fast  fractional  performance. 
I  sometimes  wondered,  had  a  wager  been  made  and 
lost  on  account  of  this  glaring  deception,  if  Mr. 
Smith  would  have  claimed  the  money.  In  the  Stock 
Exchange  Henry  N.  Smith  was  a  quick  and  bold 
trader,  and  for  a  while  everything  seemed  to  go  his 
way.  He  piled  up  millions,  and  was  ambitious  to 
own  the  fastest  trotters  in  the  world.  He  bought 

291 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF    MEN   AND    HORSES 

such  mares  as  Goldsmith  Maid,  Lady  Thorn,  and 
Lucy,  concealing  ownership  for  a  time  and  trotting 
them  against  each  other  until  I  began  to  sharply  criti- 
cise him  in  print,  and  then  there  was  a  change  for 
the  better.  Fashion  Stud  Farm,  near  Trenton,  N.  J., 
was  perfectly  appointed,  and  there  were  gay  gather- 
ings in  the  mansion.  Mr.  Smith  bred  performer  to 
performer,  and  the  union  of  General  Knox,  Lady 
Thorn,  and  Goldsmith  Maid,  and  of  Jay  Gould  and 
Lucy  furnish  gratifying  results.  The  soil  of  Fashion 
Stud  Farm  was  sandy,  and  it  was  difficult  to  grow 
nutritious  grass  there.  When  convinced  of  this,  Mr. 
Smith  transferred  a  large  number  of  his  best  stal- 
lions and  brood  mares  to  Walnut  Grove  Farm  near 
Lexington,  Ky.  Colonel  R.  P.  Todhunter  was  in 
charge  of  the  Blue  Grass  division.  I  was  in  Mr. 
Smith's  New  York  office  one  morning,  and  he  di- 
rected my  attention  to  a  large  railroad  map  which 
hung  on  the  wall:  "  You  can  see  for  yourself  that 
these  lines  are  handicapped  by  non-productive  coun- 
try. Their  value  is  forced.  I  am  picking  the  sand 
from  the  foundations  and  a  crash  is  inevitable."  I 
think  that  Mr.  Smith  was  sincere  in  what  he  said,  but 
the  crash  did  not  come.  He  was  forced  to  retreat, 
and  his  fortune  was  greatly  impaired.  He  recovered 
some  of  his  losses,  and  placed  one  million  dollars 
in  the  name  of  his  wife,  as  Mrs.  Smith  told  me  her- 
self, to  guard  against  another  rainy  day.  The  trust 
was  not  faithfully  observed,  Mr.  Smith  borrowing 
from  the  fund  and  losing  it  in  speculation.  The 

292 


HENRY   N.    SMITH   AND   OTHER   BREEDERS 

last  time  I  saw  Smith  was  at  Fashion  Stud  Farm, 
after  the  death  of  his  wife.  He  had  been  thrown  by 
an  unruly  horse  from  the  saddle  against  a  tree,  and 
several  bones  were  fractured.  Smith  had  rigged  pul- 
leys which  he  could  work  and  change  his  position 
from  time  to  time  in  bed,  and  was  really  cheerful 
for  one  so  badly  crippled.  He  did  not  get  out  for 
months,  and  then  was  not  the  chipper  figure  of  old. 
The  long  mental  strain  told  upon  him,  and  his  last 
days  were  spent  in  an  asylum  at  Stamford.  Even 
kings  of  finance  have  their  ups  and  downs  and  are 
called  upon  to  go  out  of  the  world  more  helpless  and 
forlorn  than  when  they  entered  it. 

John  B.  Dutcher  commenced  breeding  trotters  at 
Pawling,  N.  Y.,  in  1891,  and  he  was  quite  enthusias- 
tic for  a  time,  but  grew  tired,  and  closed  out  the 
establishment.  His  farm  was  well  appointed,  and 
I  remember  pleasant  days  there,  especially  one  when 
a  large  party  ran  up  in  a  private  car  from  New 
York  and  lent  a  rosy  complexion  to  the  atmosphere. 
The  committee  in  charge  of  the  entertainment  was 
composed  of  David  S.  Hammond  and  myself,  and 
the  champagne  was  cooled  in  large  washtubs.  Mr. 
Dutcher  was  born  in  Dover,  Dutchess  County,  N.  Y., 
February  13,  1830,  and  he  was  a  sturdy  lieutenant 
of  Commodore  Vanderbilt  and  Wm.  H.  Vanderbilt. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Assembly  and  the  State 
Senate  at  Albany,  and  entered  the  directory  of  the 
New  York  &  Harlem  Railroad  in  1864,  and  became 
the  manager  of  the  Live  Stock  Transportation  De- 

293 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

partment  of  the  New  York  Central  system  in  1865. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Chamber  of  Commerce  and 
the  Produce  Exchange,  and  a  director  in  numerous 
banks  and  corporations.  He  was  a  forceful  man, 
who  reflected  credit  on  the  trotting-horse  breeding 
industry,  and  I  was  sorry  to  see  him  drop  from  the 
active  line. 

Patchen  Farm,  J.  W.  Day,  was  at  Waterloo, 
N.  Y.,  and  the  stallions  were  Seneca  Patchen,  Sun- 
rise Patchen,  Bartholdi  Patchen,  and  Kaiser.  The 
latter,  by  George  Wilkes,  dam  Fair  Lady  by  Dicta- 
tor, was  formerly  owned  by  General  W.  S.  Tilton  of 
Maine,  whose  career  as  a  breeder  was  entertaining 
to  himself,  if  not  profitable.  Dr.  Day  is  not  as  active 
in  trotting  circles  as  he  was,  still  he  is  now  and  then 
seen  in  a  sulky  driving  one  of  his  own  horses  in  a 
race. 

Genesee  Valley  Farm,  the  venture  of  Judson  H. 
Clark,  was  at  Elmira,  N.  Y.,  and  his  three  stallions 
were  Lord  Wellington,  brother  of  Sunol,  2.08^; 
Young  Fullerton,  2.2o|,  and  Pocahontas  Boy,  the 
sire  of  the  fast  pacing  mare,  Buffalo  Girl,  2.12^. 
Mr.  Clark  often  went  down  the  Grand  Circuit  line 
and  he  found  much  recreation  in  breeding. 

Tuscarora  Farm,  at  Doubs,  Maryland,  was  the 
venture  of  C.  M.  de  Garmendia,  a  young  gentleman 
bubbling  over  with  enthusiasm  for  horses  of  speed. 
His  stallions  were  Sea  King  by  Lord  Russell,  out  of 
Fairy  Belle  by  Belmont;  Monocacy  by  King  Wilkes, 
out  of  Vivandiere  by  Volunteer,  and  Tuscarora  by 

294 


HENRY   N.    SMITH   AND    OTHER   BREEDERS 

Sea  King,  out  of  Duenna  by  Woodford  Mambrino. 
Mr.  de  Garmendia  trained  his  trotters,  and  became 
quite  an  expert  driver  of  them  in  races.  He  pre- 
ferred the  robust  life  of  the  track  to  the  dull  refine- 
ments of  the  drawing-room. 


295 


CHAPTER  XXXI 

EVOLUTION — ENVIRONMENT  AND  NUTRITION 

MAMBRINO  was  a  gray  horse,  bred  by  John  Atkin- 
son of  Scholes,  near  Leeds,  England,  and  foaled  in 
1768.  He  was  by  Engineer  (son  of  Sampson),  dam 
by  Old  Cade;  second  dam  by  the  Duke  of  Bolton's 
gray  horse,  Little  John,  son  of  Old  Partner.  He 
passed  from  Mr.  Atkinson  to  Lord  Grosvenor,  and 
won  his  first  race  at  Newmarket  in  1773,  beating 
the  Duke  of  Kingston's  Croney  by  Careless,  two 
miles,  105  yards.  He  also  defeated,  at  Newmarket 
in  1773,  the  good  race  horse,  Florizel  by  Herod. 
He  raced  up  to  1779,  when  he  fell  lame  while  run- 
ning in  the  Craven  Stakes,  and  was  retired  to  the 
stud.  He  was  a  horse  of  substance  and  lofty  style, 
and  is  at  the  foundation  of  some  of  the  finest  coach 
horses  produced  in  England.  Mambrina,  chestnut 
mare  foaled  in  1785,  and  by  Mambrino,  dam  sister 
to  Naylor's  Sally,  was  imported  into  South  Carolina 
in  1787,  and  among  her  produce  was  Eliza  by  imp. 
Bedford.  Bred  to  Sir  Archy,  Eliza  produced  Ber- 
trand  and  Pacific,  celebrated  in  the  stud.  Gray 
Eagle,  who  ran  four-mile  heats,  and  whose  blood 
is  a  factor  in  trotting  pedigrees,  was  by  Bertrand. 
Messenger,  a  gray  horse  foaled  in  1780,  by  Mam- 
j  dam  by  Turf;  second  dam  sister  to  Figurante 
296 


EVOLUTION—ENVIRONMENT,  NUTRITION 

by  Regulus,  son  of  Godolphin  Arabian,  started  four 
times  in  England,  won  eight  races,  and  received  for- 
feit twice.  He  was  imported  into  America  in  1788, 
one  year  after  Mambrina,  and,  as  racing  was  then 
under  a  cloud,  was  bred  to  all  sorts  of  mares  and 
founded  a  great  trotting  family.  Lewis  G.  Morris 
owned  a  thoroughbred  daughter  of  imp.  Sourcrout, 
and  her  nuptial  with  Messenger  resulted  in  a  gray 
horse  foaled  in  1806  and  named  Mambrino.  John 
Tredwell  of  Long  Island  bred  a  chestnut  mare  to 
the  Morris  horse,  Mambrino  by  Messenger,  and  the 
outcome  was  a  bay  horse  called  Abdallah,  foaled  in 
1823. 

Mr.  David  Bonner  has  preserved  a  paper,  now 
yellow  with  the  breath  of  time,  from  which  I 
extract : 


"  Mr.  Rysdyk,  who  knew  Abdallah  through  and 
through,  says  he  was  about  the  finest  horse  that 
he  ever  saw — that  he  was  loaded  down  with  good 
points.  In  describing  him  Mr.  Rysdyk  said:  'He 
was  powerful  in  the  back,  loins,  and  quarters,  with 
the  most  beautiful  width  of  back  that  I  ever  saw  in 
my  life.  His  motion  was  exceedingly  springy,  vig- 
orous, and  elastic,  and  he  had  the  quickest  knee 
action  that  I  ever  saw  in  any  horse/  Abdallah  was 
taken  to  Kentucky  in  1839,  where  he  remained  for 
several  years,  and  left  a  fine  strain  of  Messenger 
blood.  But  his  colts  on  Long  Island  beginning  to 
show  well  as  trotters,  William  Simonson  and  John 
Buckley  went  to  Kentucky,  bought  him,  and  brought 
him  back  to  New  York.  He  subsequently  went  to 

297 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

Chester,  Orange  County,  and  stood  there  from  April, 
1846,  to  April,  1849.  The  fate  of  this  fine  horse 
was  melancholy.  In  the  spring  of  1854  William 
Simonson  (his  owner)  let  a  farmer  take  him  to  make 
a  season  near  Fire-place,  a  remote  hamlet  on  Long 
Island,  where  his  value  was  wholly  unknown.  Mr. 
Simonson  gave  Abdallah  to  the  farmer  out  and  out, 
with  the  proviso  that  he  should  take  care,  good  care, 
of  him  as  long  as  he  lived,  the  old  horse  then  being 
twenty-nine  years  of  age.  But  the  farmer,  suppos- 
ing Abdallah  to  be  too  old  for  further  service,  sold 
him  to  a  fisherman  for  $35.  The  fisherman  at- 
tempted to  drive  him  to  his  wagon;  the  old  horse 
resented  the  degradation,  smashed  the  fish  wagon  to 
atoms,  and  so  frightened  the  fisherman  that  he  never 
dared  to  attempt  anything  further  with  him;  he 
turned  him  out  to  run  upon  the  beach,  where  there 
was  not  herbage  enough  to  afford  sustenance  for  a 
goat.  Mr.  Simonson,  hearing  of  this  barbarism, 
hastened  to  Abdallah's  rescue,  but,  when  he  arrived 
in  the  fisherman's  neighborhood,  he  found  the  old 
horse  dying  of  starvation,  and,  waiting  till  he  ex- 
pired, Mr.  S.  buried  him  in  the  sand  of  the  beach. 
This  occurred  in  November,  1854." 

The  Charles  Kent  mare  by  imp.  Bellfounder,  out 
of  One  Eye  by  imp.  Messenger,  was  bred  to  Ab- 
dallah, and  the  fruit  was  Rysdyk's  Hambletonian, 
born  in  1849,  an<^  wno  *s  now  recognized  as  the 
greatest  of  trotting  progenitors.  Mambrino  Pay- 
master, sire  of  Mambrino  Chief,  another  great  trot- 
ting progenitor,  was  from  the  loins  of  Abdallah.  The 
thoroughbred  who  sired  Abdallah  has  but  few  rep- 
resentatives on  the  running  turf.  Miller's  Damsel, 

298 


EVOLUTION— ENVIRONMENT,  NUTRITION 

dam  of  the  famous  race  horse  American  Eclipse, 
was  a  daughter  of  imp.  Messenger.  As  Messenger 
was  a  runner,  from  running  ancestors,  why  was  he 
so  potent  in  founding  a  family  of  trotters?  This 
question  has  been  hotly  debated  for  years,  and,  as 
a  matter  of  course,  opinions  differ.  The  Weismann 
theory  of  absolute  continuity  will  not  do.  "  No  evo- 
lutionist," says  Romaine,  "  would  at  any  time  have 
propounded  the  view  that  one  generation  depends 
for  all  its  characters  on  those  acquired  by  its  imme- 
diate ancestors,  for  this  would  merely  be  to  unsay 
the  theory  of  evolution  itself,  as  well  as  to  deny  the 
patent  facts  of  heredity,  as  shown,  for  example,  in 
atavism."  Speed  is  largely  a  matter  of  form  and 
nervous  energy,  and  the  conformation  and  tempera- 
ment of  Messenger  were  such  as  to  favor  the  utiliza- 
tion of  speed  at  any  well-recognized  speed  gait.  En- 
vironment exercised  some  control.  If  racing  had  not 
been  practically  dead  in  the  North  when  Messenger 
landed  in  America,  his  progeny  would  have  been 
trained  or  developed  to  run  on  the  track,  instead  of 
utilized  in  harness,  and  we  would  have  witnessed  a 
continuity  of  running  growth,  in  place  of  the  steady 
advancement  of  trotting  growth.  It  is  true  that  trot- 
ting is  in  a  measure  an  acquired  character,  but  in 
the  case  of  Messenger  we  cannot  wholly  separate 
it  from  congenital  roots.  Through  generations  of 
cultivation  and  use  the  character  is  intensified,  and 
the  present  highest  exponent  of  the  cumulative  force 
is  Lou  Dillon.  The  persistent  efforts  of  a  century 

299 


RECOLLECTIONS   OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

were  required  to  reduce  the  trotting  record  from 
three  minutes  and  less  to  two  minutes.  The  evolu- 
tion from  Messenger,  who  died  in  1808,  age  twenty- 
eight  years,  was  slow  but  sure.  The  germ  in  the 
course  of  time  became  a  living  form.  The  acquired 
character  was  merged  into  the  congenital,  and  now 
the  great  trotter,  the  winner  of  future  prizes,  is  born, 
not  manufactured. 

Darwin  holds  that  climate  has  an  effect  upon  the 
horse,  altering  to  some  extent  the  character  of  the 
ancestral  stock.  In  India  Scotch  setters  will  not 
breed  true  to  their  type,  owing  to  radical  change  of 
climate.  The  ocean  separates  the  birthplace  of 
Messenger  from  his  grave,  and  I  fully  believe  that 
the  character  of  his  progeny  was  modified  by  climate 
and  food.  The  climatic  outcross  in  his  case  was 
more  pronounced  than  that  which  attended  the  trans- 
fer of  George  Wilkes  from  New  York  to  Kentucky; 
and  it  is  a  thrice-told  tale  that  the  progeny  of  Wilkes, 
born  under  Blue  Grass  skies,  was  far  better,  as  a  rule, 
than  that  of  New  York.  Nutrition  also  has  a  modi- 
fying influence.  The  Brazilian  parrot  changes  the 
green  in  its  feathers  to  red  or  yellow,  if  fed  on  the 
fat  of  certain  fishes.  A  diet  of  hempseed  will  cause 
the  bullfinch  to  turn  black,  and  you  can  redden  the 
plumage  of  the  canary  by  feeding  it  on  cayenne  pep- 
per. Experience  confirms  the  opinion  that  structure, 
as  well  as  temperament,  is  influenced  by  food  and 
change  of  climate. 

Jessie  Kirk  was  a  brown  mare,  foaled  in  Kentucky, 
300 


EVOLUTION— ENVIRONMENT,  NUTRITION 

and  by  Clark  Chief  (son  of  Mambrino  Chief),  dam 
Old  Lady  by  Captain  Walker  by  Tecumseh;  second 
dam  by  Parish's  Pilot,  and  third  dam  by  Brown  Pilot, 
by  Copper  Bottom,  by  Brutus.  She  was  purchased 
by  Robert  Bonner  and  brought  to  Westchester 
County,  N.  Y.,  and  bred  to  Startle.  The  result  was 
Majolica,  born  in  1876.  He  was  so  small  that  he 
was  gelded  and  sold  to  Nathan  Straus,  in  whose 
stable  he  trotted  to  a  record  of  2.15.  Westchester, 
the  brother  of  Majolica,  was  born  in  April,  1881, 
and  his  breeder  experimented  on  him  with  food.  I 
have  before  me  the  memorandum  in  the  handwriting 
of  Mr.  Bonner: 

"  October,  began  to  feed  12  quarts  of  pats  a  day 
to  the  mare,  and  take  her  in  at  night.  Didn't  wean 
until  January  10,  1882.  After  weaning,  gave  colt 
6  quarts  ground  oats  and  2  quarts  of  bran  daily. 
When  13  months  old,  weight,  925  pounds;  15 
months,  970  pounds;  17  months,  1025  pounds;  18 
months,  1060  pounds.  On  the  same  day  Startle 
weighed  1000  pounds,  Eldridge,  1015  pounds,  and 
Nutbourne,  1045  pounds.  Broken  as  a  yearling, 
and  the  second  time  Johnny  Murphy  drove  him 
trotted  a  quarter  in  44  seconds.  The  remarkable 
fact  is  that  his  full  brother,  six  years  old,  that  trotted 
in  2.22J,  is  only  15  hands  high." 

Through  nutrition  this  colt,  who  was  named 
Westchester,  was  larger  and  heavier  than  his  sire 
when  a  year  and  a  half  old,  and  was  a  mammoth 
by  the  side  of  his  eldest  brother.  His  form,  as  well 

301 


RECOLLECTIONS   OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

as  temperament,  was  influenced  by  food;  and  he 
never  developed  anything  like  the  speed  of  Majolica. 
He  was  sluggish  in  feeling  and  action,  and  Mr.  Bon- 
ner  confessed  to  me  that  over-food  stimulation  was 
worse  than  under  stimulation.  The  conviction  grows 
in  me  that  variation  is  the  outcome  of  nutrition  and 
change  in  the  external  conditions  of  life. 


302 


CHAPTER  XXXII 

M'FERRAN,  WITHERS,  AND  WILSON 

GLENVIEW,  in  the  days  of  J.  C.  McFerran,  was  a 
farm  of  88 1  acres  within  a  few  miles  of  Louisville. 
The  land  was  fertile  and  well-watered,  and  the  build- 
ings substantial  and  commodious.  The  leading  stal- 
lions were  Nutwood,  Pancoast,  and  Cuyler,  and 
among  the  100  brood  mares  were  Mary  Mambrino 
by  Mambrino  Patchen,  Lady  Abdallah  by  Alexan- 
der's Abdallah,  Bonny  Doon  by  Aberdeen,  and  Reina 
Victoria,  dam  of  Princeton,  2.19!.  The  latter  sold 
at  auction  for  $7025.  Mary  Mambrino  produced 
Elvira,  four-year-old  record  2.i8i  (dam  of  Ponce 
de  Leon,  2.13),  and  Beatrice,  dam  of  Patron,  2.14^; 
Prodigal,  2.16,  and  Patronage,  sire  of  Alix,  2.03!- 
Algath  by  Cuyler,  out  of  Haroldine  by  Harold, 
trotted  to  a  four-year-old  record  of  2.23,  and  Day 
Dream  by  Cuyler,  out  of  Lucia  by  Hambletonian, 
she  out  of  Trusty  by  imp.  Trustee,  trotted  to  a  four- 
year-old  record  of  2. 2 if.  In  1883  Mr.  William 
Rockefeller  tried  to  buy  Day  Dream  through  me.  I 
quote  from  a  letter  of  Mr.  McFerran,  November 
24,  1883: 

"  Colonel  West  wrote  me  to  ask  for  a  friend  the 
lowest  price  for  Day  Dream.  I  replied  that  I  would 
take  $10,000  for  her.  The  truth  is  I  did  not  want 

303 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF   MEN  AND    HORSES 

Kate  Sprague,  and  preferred  to  sell  my  mare  for 
cash  at  this  price  rather  than  make  the  trade  on  the 
basis  Mr.  Rockefeller  proposed.  Subsequently  Colo- 
nel West  wrote  me  that  Rockefeller  was  the  friend 
who  wanted  the  mare.  While  he  was  talking  with 
you  about  trading,  he  must  have  written  Colonel 
West  to  get  the  lowest  price  for  cash.  Of  course 
I  did  not  know  who  Colonel  West's  friend  was  when 
he  wrote  me,  and  now,  unless  Mr.  Rockefeller  will 
give  me  $10,000  and  Kate  Sprague,  do  not  make  the 
trade  with  him." 

The  straightforward  character  of  the  man  is  re- 
vealed by  this  letter. 

December  8,  1882,  Mr.  McFerran  wrote  to  me: 

"  I  notice  in  the  last  issue  of  your  paper  an  ar- 
ticle in  which  ex-Governor  Stanford  says  that  he 
would  like  to  have  seen  his  young  mare  Wildflower 
in  a  race  against  Eva,  Alroy,  and  Algath,  or  any 
other  three-year-old,  and,  if  such  a  race  could  be 
gotten  up,  he  would  keep  his  stable  here  two  weeks 
longer  and  start  Wildflower  in  it.  Now,  this  seems 
just  a  little  thin,  as  a  purse  was  made  up  by  the 
Gentlemen's  Driving  Association  for  all  three-year- 
olds  to  trot  on  the  25th  of  October  last  for  $2000. 
Algath  was  entered  and  an  express  car  was  held 
here  on  the  sidetrack  four  days  waiting  for  orders 
to  ship.  Algath's  clothes  were  packed  in  her  trunk, 
sulky  boxed  and  ready  to  go,  when  the  President  of 
the  Association  wired  me  not  to  ship,  as  the  race  was 
off,  on  account  of  two  of  the  parties  backing  put. 
She  is  now  turned  out  for  the  winter,  therefore,  it  is 
impossible  for  me  to  accept  the  offer  of  the  Gov- 

304 


McFERRAN,   WITHERS,   AND   WILSON 

ernor  to  trot  her  against  Wildflower.  If  she  lives 
and  winters  well,  I  think  she  will  be  able  to  lower  the 
best  four-year-old  record  that  has  ever  been  made. 
This  is  not  thrown  out  as  a  challenge,  as  I  am  not  in 
that  business.  I  merely  want  to  let  folks  know  that 
Algath  is  not  afraid  of  the  best  ones." 

James  C.  McFerran  was  a  good  and  clean  sports- 
man. If  the  race  had  been  made,  the  competitors  of 
McFerran  would  have  been  Leland  Stanford,  John 
W.  Mackay,  and  Benj.  F.  Tracy. 

In  October,  1885,  James  C.  McFerran  died  and 
then  came  the  dispersal  of  the  famous  stud.  If  the 
master  had  lived,  his  breeding  triumphs  would  have 
been  many,  because  he  had  just  got  in  position  to 
turn  out  trotters  by  the  score. 

Mr.  John  E.  Green  purchased  Glenview  Farm, 
and  for  several  years  kept  up  its  reputation  for  good 
horses  and  refined  hospitality.  His  leading  stallion 
was  Egotist  by  Electioneer,  dam  Sprite  by  Belmont; 
second  dam  Waterwitch  by  Pilot  Jr.  Egotist  trotted 
to  a  record  of  2.224,  and,  as  a  speed  producer,  be- 
came the  sharp  rival  of  his  brother,  Sphinx,  2.20^. 
Electrite,  the  third  brother,  also  trotted  to  a  record 
and  rapidly  built  up  a  reputation  as  a  speed  sire. 
The  Waterwitch  family  is  highly  valued  by  the 
thoughtful.  One  of  the  brood  mares  owned  by  Mr. 
Green  was  Mystic  by  Nutwood,  dam  Emma  Arte- 
burn  by  Mambrino  Patchen;  second  dam  Jennie 
Johnson  by  Sweet  Owen,  son  of  Grey  Eagle.  He 
sent  her  to  California  and  bred  her  to  Guy  Wilkes, 

305 


RECOLLECTIONS   OF   MEN  AND    HORSES 

and  the  result  was  the  very  handsome  and  resolute 
trotting  stallion  Fred  Kohl,  2.07!.  Mr.  Green  re- 
tired from  Glenview,  on  the  eve  of  pronounced  suc- 
cess, to  engage  in  other  business. 

At  the  close  of  the  Civil  War  General  Wm.  T. 
Withers,  who  had  worn  the  Gray  with  honor,  de- 
cided to  make  his  home  at  Lexington,  Ky.,  and,  as 
he  knew  how  the  horse  supply  had  been  reduced  by 
four  years  of  strife,  he  thought  it  a  good  business 
proposition  to  engage  in  breeding.  He  purchased 
land  in  the  outskirts  of  Lexington  and  quickly  made 
it  famous  as  Fairlawn  Stock  Farm.  His  principal 
stallions  were  Almont,  Happy  Medium,  Aberdeen, 
C.  M.  Clay  Jr.,  and  Ethan  Allen  473.  Three  of 
these  are  renowned  speed-producers.  The  best  of 
Almont's  thirty-five  trotters  were  Fanny  Witherspoon, 
2.i6|;  Piedmont,  2.174,  and  Aldine,  2.19^.  His 
two  pacers  were  Westmont,  2.13!,  and  Puritan,  2.16. 
Ninety-six  of  the  sons  of  Almont  are  producing  sires 
and  eighty-three  of  his  daughters  are  producing  dams. 
December  15,  1882,  General  Withers  wrote  to  me: 

"  I  enclose  certificates  of  driver,  and  the  two 
judges  and  timers  yet  living,  who  I  learn  from  Major 
Campbell  Brown  are  reputable  men,  of  the  trot  to 
beat  2.40  for  a  stake  of  $50,  over  the  Nashville 
track  in  the  summer  of  1875,  which  Almont  Jr. 
(Bostick's)  won  in  2.29  on  first  trial.  You  will  see 
the  performance  was  a  regular  race.  Bostick,  who 
then  owned  the  horse,  did  not  trot  to  make  a  record 
below  2.30,  as  he  expected,  and  did  trot  the  horse 
afterwards.  It  stands  on  a  different  footing  from 

306 


McFERRAN,   WITHERS,   AND   WILSON 

trials  to  give  a  record,  as  Bostick  really  did  not  want 
the  horse  handicapped  with  a  2.30  record.  He  now 
has  no  interest  whatever  in  the  stallion,  but,  when 
here  some  six  weeks  ago,  told  me  of  the  performance, 
and,  in  justice  to  Almont,  I  wrote  down  to  get  the 
certificates." 

The  first  prominent  trotter  by  Bostick's  Almont 
was  Annie  W.,  2.20.  From  the  loins  of  this  stallion 
came  nineteen  trotters,  three  pacers,  fourteen  sires, 
and  seventeen  dams.  I  quote  from  a  letter,  written 
to  me  by  General  Withers,  July  5,  1884: 

"  Almont  died  from  an  attack  of  spasmodic  colic 
on  the  morning  of  July  4,  about  nine  o'clock.  He 
looked  better  and  was  in  better  order  when  he  was 
attacked  than  ever  before  at  this  season  of  the  year 
since  I  owned  him.  On  the  morning  of  July  3  he 
was  turned  out  by  his  groom  before  sunrise  to  take 
his  regular  exercise,  as  the  weather  was  warm,  and 
when  taken  up  he  was  perspiring  freely.  A  bucket 
of  cold  water,  fresh  from  the  cistern,  was  given  him 
while  in  this  heated  condition,  and  this,  no  doubt, 
brought  on  the  attack  of  colic.  The  usual  rule  was 
to  water  and  feed  him  early  in  the  morning  and  not 
turn  him  out  for  exercise  until  about  eight  o'clock. 
He  died  in  about  twenty-four  hours  after  he  was  at- 
tacked. The  pecuniary  loss  is  great,  but  this  does 
not  concern  me.  I  and  all  my  family  were  greatly 
attached  to  Almont,  and  his  sudden  and  untimely 
death  excited  our  sympathies.  He  was  buried  in 
front  of  his  stable  by  the  side  of  his  former  stable 
companion,  C.  M.  Clay  Jr.,  and  his  stall  has  been 
draped  in  mourning." 

307 


RECOLLECTIONS   OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

The  Almont  family  is  one  of  great  power  and 
potency.  General  Withers  closed  his  letter  with  a 
personal  remark: 

"  My  general  health  seems  fully  restored,  though 
I  still  suffer  from  an  old  Mexican  War  wound,  and 
have  to  use  crutches  in  walking." 

Happy  Medium  also  founded  a  great  family,  one 
of  his  daughters  being  Nancy  Hanks,  2.04,  ex-queen 
of  the  trotting  turf.  The  fastest  trotter  by  Aberdeen 
was  Kentucky  Union,  2.07^.  Onward  Silver,  2.05  J, 
is  out  of  one  of  his  daughters.  General  Withers  was 
a  liberal  advertiser,  and  he  was  the  first  of  large 
breeders  to  issue  a  catalogue  fully  describing  each 
animal  and  naming  the  price  at  which  it  would  be 
sold.  Horses  were  sold  by  correspondence  from 
Fairlawn,  literally  from  Maine  to  Texas,  and  the 
business  was  remunerative.  With  the  passing  of 
General  Withers  Fairlawn  passed.  In  October, 
1904,  I  walked  under  the  locust  trees  and  was  made 
sad  by  the  dilapidated  stables  and  other  evidences 
of  departed  glory. 

W.  H.  Wilson  came  to  Lexington  as  a  breeder  in 
1873,  bringing  George  Wilkes  and  Honest  Allen 
under  a  partnership  arrangement  with  Z.  E.  and 
Wm.  L.  Simmons.  He  established  the  farm  called 
Ashland  Park,  and  was  one  of  the  original  members 
of  the  Kentucky  Trotting  Horse  Breeding  Associa- 
tion. In  letters  that  he  wrote  to  breeders  throughout 
the  Blue  Grass  district,  soliciting  their  suppor^  he 


tH     CO 


McFERRAN,   WITHERS,   AND   WILSON 

predicted  that  it  would  become  the  greatest  trotting 
association  in  America.  He  was  at  one  time  its 
President,  and  for  many  years  was  a  director.  Later 
he  moved  to  Cynthiana,  where  he  established  Ab- 
dallah  Park.  When  Smuggler  was  retired  from  the 
track,  Mr.  Wilson  leased  him  from  Colonel  H.  S. 
Russell,  and  made  him  a  star  attraction  at  Abdallah 
Park.  Mr.  Wilson  went  to  California  in  March, 
1886,  and  this  short  dispatch  from  San  Gabriel  tells 
the  result: 

"  Have  accepted  Sultan  after  examining  him  and 
his  get." 

A  letter  is  before  me,  dated  Cincinnati,  March  21, 
1886: 

"  Sultan  was  shown  to  admirers  here,  and  many 
remarked  that  he  looked  like  a  thoroughbred.  When 
he  is  eyed  by  the  Kentuckians,  we  can  tell  better 
about  that.  To-night  he  goes  to  Cynthiana,  and,  on 
Mr.  P.  S.  Talbert's  arrival  from  California,  I  shall 
place  him  in  his  charge  until  August  i. 

H.  WILSON." 


Eva,  Sweetheart,  and  Stamboul  were  sired  by  Sul- 
tan. Mr.  Wilson  was  a  man  of  ideas  and  executive 
capacity,  and  his  energy  compelled  recognition.  He 
was  active  on  the  floor  of  the  congress  of  the  Na- 
tional Trotting  Association,  and  was  a  member  of 
the  Executive  Committee  of  the  National  Associa- 
tion of  Trotting  Horse  Breeders.  The  stallion  in 

309 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF    MEN   AND    HORSES 

which  he  finally  reposed  confidence  was  Simmons  by 
George  Wilkes,  and  he  is  the  sire  of  95  trotters,  24 
pacers,  and  32  sires  and  21  dams.  This  is  a  brilliant 
record  of  achievement.  The  greatest  breeding  tri- 
umph of  Mr.  Wilson  was  McKinney,  2.11^,  sold  in 
October,  1904,  to  William  Simpson  for  $50,000. 
Rosa  Sprague  by  Governor  Sprague,  out  of  Rose 
Kenney  by  Mambrino  Messenger,  was  sent  by  Mr. 
Wilson  to  Alcyone,  and  the  outcome  was  a  bay  colt 
born  in  1887,  who  developed  into  a  trotter  and  a 
phenomenal  sire  of  speed.  Lady  de  Jarnette,  2.28, 
was  a  great  pleasure  to  Mr.  Wilson,  he  having  ex- 
hibited her  all  over  the  country,  winning  innumer- 
able prizes  with  her.  Mr.  Wilson  died  July  14, 
1892,  and  one  of  the  brood  mares  that  passed  under 
the  hammer  at  the  closing-out  sale  of  his  stock  was 
the  dam  of  Simocolon.. 


310 


CHAPTER  XXXIII 

JEWETT   FARM 

FOR  a  number  of  years  the  rival  of  Village  Farm 
in  Erie  County,  New  York,  was  Jewett  Stock  Farm 
at  East  Aurora.  The  Hamlin  buildings  were  modest 
when  compared  with  the  elaborate  buildings  of 
Jewett.  The  latter  cost  a  great  deal  of  money  and 
presented  an  imposing  appearance.  There  are  400 
acres  in  the  place,  and  the  breeding  foundations  were 
laid  in  1878.  The  Casenovia  Creek  flows  along 
the  eastern  border  of  the  farm.  A  pet  driving  mare, 
cream-colored,  that  the  father  of  Henry  C.  Jewett 
drove  on  the  road,  was  the  spark  from  which  grew 
the  flame.  A  costly  improvement  on  the  farm  was  a 
covered  mile  track,  which  allowed  training  opera- 
tions to  go  on  without  regard  to  the  state  of  the 
weather.  Henry  C.  Jewett,  although  associated  with 
his  brother  and  his  father,  was  from  the  start  the 
directing  spirit  of  the  establishment.  One  of  his 
fads  was  the  blood  of  Henry  Clay,  the  black  horse 
foaled  in  1837,  anc^  ^Y  Andrew  Jackson  (son  of 
Young  Bashaw  by  Grand  Bashaw),  dam  the  Surrey 
mare,  a  trotter  from  Canada.  In  1882  Black  Henry 
was  regarded  as  the  best  living  son  of  Henry  Clay, 
and  he  was  a  black  of  15.2,  with  good  action.  Sailor 
by  Young  Ashland,  son  of  Henry  Clay,  was  a  horse 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

of  1 6  hands.  Rushmore,  a  black  horse  of  16  hands 
weighing  1200  pounds,  was  by  Henry  Clay,  but  the 
majority  of  visitors  to  Jewett  Farm  preferred  Black 
Henry,  because  he  had  more  quality.  The  attempt 
to  corner  the  Clay  blood  proved  quite  expensive  to 
Mr.  Jewett,  and  the  breeding  results  were  far  from 
satisfactory.  From  a  letter,  written  me  in  the  spring 
of  1882  by  Henry  C.  Jewett,  I  quote: 

"We  have  a  colt,  born  May  19,  that  is  a  grand 
one.  Color,  dark  brown,  no  white ;  size,  large,  great 
bone  and  muscular  development,  perfect  in  every 
way,  with  as  fine  and  pure  Clay  action  as  was  ever 
seen.  Sired  by  Black  Henry,  son  of  Henry  Clay; 
dam  Jennie  Clay,  daughter  of  Henry  Clay.  Both 
parents  possess  great  vigor  and  vitality,  and  are  per- 
fectly sound.  We  consider  ourselves  extremely  for- 
tunate in  getting  such  a  perfect  foal  to  preserve  the 
blood  of  old  Henry  Clay." 

This  deeply  inbred  colt,  so  promising  at  birth, 
never  made  an  impression  in  breeding  annals.  The 
critics  began  to  find  fault  with  the  Clay  experiment, 
and,  under  date  of  December  25,  1882,  Mr.  Jewett 
wrote  me: 

"  Concerning  the  writings  of  Randolph  Hunting- 
ton  in  your  paper,  I  have  never  known  what  he  wrote, 
or  intended  to  write,  until  after  it  appeared  in  print, 
and  will  say  that  many  times  I  have  been  ashamed 
of  what  I  have  seen  in  the  paper.  I  do  not  think  I 
should  be  held  responsible  in  any  way  for  Hunting- 
ton's  writings.  I  allowed  him  to  write  the  first  ad- 

312 


JEWETT   FARM 

vertisement  for  us,  supposing  it  would  be  a  proper 
one,  and  was  astonished  when  I  saw  over  our  signa- 
tures that  part  of  the  advertisement  which  claimed 
Dexter  as  a  Clay.  I  know  nothing  whatever  about 
that  question,  and  should  not  have  been  put  in  such 
a  position.  For  many  reasons  I  have  said  nothing, 
but  I  want  you  to  understand  the  matter.  Hunting- 
ton  also  placed  us  before  the  public  in  such  a  way 
as  to  make  it  appear  we  were  all  Clay,  which  you 
must  know  is  not  so.  I  believe  in  the  Clay  cross,  but 
I  also  believe  thoroughly  in  the  merits  of  other  fam- 
ilies— Hambletonian,  Mambrino  Chief,  etc.  No  in- 
telligent breeder  can  take  any  other  position." 

The  fiction  that  Dexter  was  a  Clay,  instead  of  a 
Hambletonian,  was  repeated  with  spiteful  perse- 
verance twenty-odd  years  ago,  but  only  the  weak- 
minded  or  poorly  informed  take  any  stock  in  the 
story  now.  Sherman  and  Coronet,  sons  of  George 
Wilkes,  were  added  to  the  Jewett  Farm  stallions, 
and  then  came  Homer  and  Jerome  Eddy,  and  the 
Clay  bubble  collapsed.  Mr.  Hamlin  seldom  lost  an 
opportunity  to  fire  a  shot  at  Jewett  Farm,  and  I  have 
before  me  a  letter  written  by  Henry  C.  Jewett, 
March  31,  1888: 

"  I  enclose  my  reply  to  Mr.  Hamlin.  I  dislike 
this  whole  affair  very  much,  and  I  hope  the  dis- 
cussion will  not  be  allowed  to  degenerate.  I  shall 
have  mainly  to  rely  on  you  to  control  that.  I  flatter 
myself  that  I  have  some  reputation  left.  I  have  not 
so  much  to  gain  as  I  have  to  lose.  I  shall  appreciate 
highly  any  efforts  you  may  make  to  confine  this  con- 
troversy within  respectable  limits." 

3*3 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

Sherman  accomplished  more  in  the  stud  than  Coro- 
net, and  Jerome  Eddy  distanced  both.  The  latter 
was  the  particular  thorn  in  the  side  of  Mr.  Hamlin. 
In  January,  1891,  I  received  a  personal  letter  from 
Mr.  Jewett,  from  which  I  extract: 

"  You  speak  of  Jerome  Eddy,  and  add  that  the 
Volunteer  blood  is  slow  to  mature,  inferring,  or 
leading  the  public  to  believe,  that  the  get  of  Jerome 
Eddy  would  follow  Volunteer  in  this  matter.  We 
write  you,  as  a  friend,  to  correct  any  such  ideas,  if 
you  have  formed  them,  and  to  keep  you  from  get- 
ting into  one  of  the  worst  holes  that  you  could  pos- 
sibly get  into.  We  have  never  handled  any  of 
Jerome  Eddy's  get  young.  We  are  just  commencing 
to  do  so.  We  had  a  few  of  them  led  last  year,  and 
last  fall,  while  in  Kentucky,  we  hired  a  first-class 
colt  trainer,  and  commenced  in  November  to  handle 
our  colts.  Our  colt  trainer,  Mr.  McVey,  says  that 
he  thinks  Jerome  Eddy  will  prove  to  be  one  of 
the  great  sires  of  early  speed  in  this  country.  Please 
look  carefully  over  the  blood  lines  of  Jerome  Eddy 
and  see  how  much  Volunteer  blood  there  would  be 
in  colts  sired  by  Jerome  Eddy  on  this  farm.  Our 
opinion  is  that  you  will  be  astonished  when  you  come 
to  look  the  matter  up  closely  to  find  that  there  is 
only  one-eighth  Volunteer  blood  in  our  colts — 
enough  to  make  them  game,  good  race  horses.  The 
balance  of  the  blood  in  nearly  all  cases  is  the  very 
earliest  speed-producing  blood." 

The  Henry  Clay  and  Alexander's  Abdallah  blood 
in  Jerome  Eddy  helped  the  progeny  of  that  stallion 
to  arrive  at  early  speed.  In  1891  the  post  office 

314 


JEWETT   FARM 

address  of  Jewett  Farm  was  Jewettville,  N.  Y.  Al- 
though Village  Farm  was  a  very  close  neighbor,  C.  J. 
Hamlin's  letters  were  addressed  to  East  Aurora. 
The  rivalry  was  so  sharp  that  one  post  office  would 
not  meet  the  requirements  of  both  establishments. 
Mr.  Jewett  tried  to  avoid  friction,  but  the  clashing 
grew  with  the  passing  years.  It  was  in  June,  1884, 
that  Mr.  Jewett  wrote  me  requesting  a  suppression 
of  the  Bradburn  challenge: 

"  Somebody  reported  some  stuff  as  coming  from 
our  barn  which  was  a  lie.  Bradburn,  the  Superin- 
tendent of  Hamlin's  farm,  got  mad  and  then  chal- 
lenged. We  don't  do  business  that  way,  and  don't 
want  any  such  unpleasantness.  The  end  would  be 
bad  feeling." 

It  was  not  until  the  stud  at  Jewett  Farm  had  been 
disbanded  that  the  relations  between  Mr.  Jewett  and 
Mr.  Hamlin  became  even  half-way  pleasant.  It  was 
in  September,  1886,  that  I  received  from  Rochester, 
N.  Y.,  a  letter  from  Randolph  Huntington,  who  was 
at  the  birth  of  Jewett  Farm,  containing  these  pathetic 
words : 

'  The  ship  is  sinking,  but  the  colors  shall  fly  to 
the  last.  Which  is  the  hardest  way  to  die  I  can't  tell, 
for  I  have  thus  far  tried  only  the  mental." 

The  breeding  business,  like  other  business,  has  its 
little  tragedies. 


CHAPTER  XXXIV 

SOME  OLD   ORANGE   COUNTY   BREEDERS 

THE  Waldberg  stud  at  Haverstraw,  N.  Y.,  was  a 
hobby  of  A.  B.  Conger,  who  was  a  theoretical,  rather 
than  a  practical,  horseman.  Nothing  great  ever  came 
from  it.  Adam  Lilburn,  the  neighbor  of  Mr.  Con- 
ger, was  the  owner  of  Edward  Everett  (formerly 
Major  Winfield) ,  and  his  band  of  brood  mares  was 
small.  In  one  of  my  notebooks  I  find  a  brief  record 
of  a  conversation  with  Lilburn,  March  n,  1884: 

"  Charley  Kent,  a  butcher  who  drove  the  dam  of 
Rysdyk's  Hambletonian  in  the  streets  of  New  York, 
was  a  drinker,  and  he  kept  the  mare  at  work  on  the 
stones  until  he  lamed  her,  then  he  sent  her  to 
Abdallah." 

The  result  of  this  mating  was  the  great  progenitor 
of  trotters.  Here  is  another  extract  from  the  notes : 

"  American  Star  (Seely's)  was  a  light  chestnut  of 
about  15  hands.  He  was  long  and  low,  and  looked 
like  a  thoroughbred.  I  saw  him  driven  double  with 
his  daughter  at  Goshen,  when  he  was  twenty  years 
old,  in  three  minutes.  He  had  hard  usage,  and  was 
often  trotted  on  the  ice  of  Orange  Lake,  back  of 
Newburgh." 

Jonathan  Hawkins  was  a  modest  breeder  in 
Orange  County.  Dexter  and  Dictator  were  bred  by 

316 


SOME   OLD   ORANGE    COUNTY   BREEDERS 

him.  I  retain  the  notes  of  an  interview  with  Mr. 
Hawkins  years  ago.  The  McKinstry  mare  was  a 
brown  with  four  white  feet,  15.3  hands,  strong  and 
robust,  and  died  at  the  age  of  thirty.  In  1853  she 
was  sent  to  Rysdyk's  Hambletonian,  whose  fee  then 
was  $25.00,  and  the  outcome  was  the  bay  gelding 
Shark  (1854),  who  trotted  under  saddle  at  Fashion 
Course,  L.  I.,  July  13,  1866,  in  2.27!.  He  also 
trotted  on  Union  Course,  L.  L,  in  1866,  two  miles 
under  saddle  in  5.00^.  In  1847  tne  McKinstry  mare 
was  bred  to  Seely's  American  Star,  and  the  result 
was  the  black  mare  Clara  (1848),  who  ran  in  the 
fields  until  she  was  four  years  old.  She  was  then 
broken,  and  driven  by  young  Hawkins  to  school  at 
Montgomery.  She  had  a  hip  down,  caused  by  fall- 
ing over  a  bar  when  two  years  old,  but  it  did  not 
keep  her  from  showing  speed  and  gameness  on  the 
road  and  track.  In  1857,  when  the  fee  of  Hamble- 
tonian was  $35.00,  Clara  was  bred  to  the  Rysdyk 
stallion,  and  the  result  was  Dexter,  foaled  in  1858. 
When  she  was  carrying  Dexter,  Mr.  Hawkins  drove 
the  mare  around  the  Stony  Ford  track  in  2.58,  and 
thinks  that  he  could  have  put  a  record  on  her  of  2.25. 
At  one  time  he  drove  her  double  with  her  half- 
brother,  Shark,  and  she  held  him  level.  Shark,  by 
the  way,  was  used  at  one  period  of  his  life  in  haul- 
ing shingles  over  the  mountain.  Mr.  Hawkins  thinks 
that  with  proper  usage  he  would  have  trotted  a  mile 
in  2.20.  After  Dexter  was  born  Hawkins  strained 
Clara  by  rushing  her  through  the  mud  from  Stony 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF    MEN   AND    HORSES 

Ford  to  Goshen.  She  was  then  bred  back  to  Ham- 
bletonian,  and  Lady  Dexter  was  foaled  in  1862.  Dic- 
tator came  in  1863,  and  was  sold  for  $1000.  The 
price  received  for  Dexter  was  $400.  Dictator,  when 
following  his  dam,  showed  a  splendid  trotting  gait, 
and  his  breeder  thought  him  superior  to  Dexter,  who 
won  the  crown  of  the  trotting  turf.  Dexter  did  not 
show  much  trot  until  one  year  old,  and  it  was  in 
snow  which  was  thinly  crusted.  Clara  had  fourteen 
foals,  four  of  which  died  young,  and  all  the  others 
became  distinguished.  Her  three  foals  by  Volun- 
teer, Kearsarge,  Hyacinth,  and  Corrinne,  were  speed 
producers,  and  her  sons  and  daughters  by  Hamble- 
tonian  have  won  the  highest  honors  on  the  track  and 
in  the  stud.  Her  career  was  romantic,  and  a  writer 
who  evolves  a  story  from  a  single  fact  could  fill  sev- 
eral books  with  her  and  her  descendants.  At  the 
age  of  twenty-seven  Clara  died,  and  she  was  buried 
on  the  sunny  side  of  a  hill  on  the  farm  where  she  was 
born. 

D.  B.  Irwin,  who  bred  Middlet own;  John  Minchin, 
who  owned  Young  Wofel  and  Tom  Moore;  Har- 
rison Mills,  owner  of  Sweepstakes;  J.  C.  Howland, 
owner  of  Polonius;  James  M.  Mills,  owner  of  Chos- 
roes,  and  Guy  Miller,  Thomas  Morton,  Amyr  Van 
Buren,  and  Joseph  Gavin  were  other  Orange  County 
breeders  of  the  old  school,  and  it  was  my  privilege 
to  spend  pleasant  days  with  all  of  them.  I  hope  that 
recollections  of  these  days  will  be  revived  when  we 
meet  in  the  Beyond. 

318 


CHAPTER  XXXV 

STOUT,   WILLIAMS,   CATON 

AT  the  Glenview  dispersal  sale  the  second  highest 
price,  $22,000,  was  paid  for  Nutwood,  son  of  Bel- 
mont  and  Miss  Russell.  He  was  a  chestnut  of  strik- 
ing appearance,  born  in  1870,  and  had  a  trotting 
record  of  2.i8f.  He  had  shown  his  ability  to  sire 
speed,  and  his  purchase  by  H.  L.  and  F.  D.  Stout  of 
Dubuque,  Iowa,  was  exceedingly  fortunate.  He  was 
able  to  command  a  large  stud  fee,  and  the  annual 
income  from  him  was  nearly  equal  to  the  purchase 
price.  Just  previous  to  his  death  he  outranked  all 
living  stallions.  He  is  the  head  of  a  great  family 
and  we  count  his  descendants  that  have  taken  rec- 
ords by  the  thousand.  The  chief  fault  found  with 
him  was  a  tendency  to  beget  pacers,  as  well  as 
trotters.  The  Stouts  surrounded  Nutwood  with 
brood  mares  of  positive  merit,  and  in  its  heyday  the 
eyes  of  the  world  were  fixed  upon  the  breeding  farm 
at  Dubuque.  It  passed,  as  all  earthly  things  pass, 
and  only  the  memory  of  it  survives. 

Mambrino  Boy  was  a  black  horse  foaled  in  1868 
by  Mambrino  Patchen,  dam  Roving  Nelly  by 
Strader's  Cassius  M.  Clay  Jr. ;  second  dam  by  thor- 
oughbred Berthune,  and  third  dam  by  Rattler,  son 
of  Sir  Archy,  and  in  1876  he  trotted  to  a  record  of 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

2.26J.  These  blood  lines  were  attractive,  and  two 
of  the  daughters  of  Mambrino  Boy  found,  for  a 
while,  a  place  in  the  Stout  brood-mare  band.  One 
was  Gussie  Wilkes,  dam  Nora  Wilkes  by  George 
Wilkes;  second  dam  by  imp.  Consternation,  and 
third  dam  Helen  Mar  by  Downing's  Bay  Messenger. 
The  other  was  Lou,  dam  Bird  Mitchell  by  Mam- 
brino Royal.  The  Stouts  so  underrated  the  ability 
of  these  daughters  of  Mambrino  Boy  that  they  sold 
them  for  a  song  to  a  young  telegraph  operator,  C. 
W.  Williams.  Gussie  Wilkes  was  sent  to  Kentucky 
and  bred  to  Jay  Bird  (son  of  George  Wilkes  and 
Lady  Frank  by  Mambrino  Star) ,  and  Lou,  who  ac- 
companied her,  was  bred  to  William  L.  (brother  of 
Guy  Wilkes) ,  son  of  George  Wilkes  and  Lady  Bun- 
ker by  Mambrino  Patchen.  In  both  cases  kindred 
strains  were  reinforced,  and  the  results  were  aston- 
ishing. Lou  produced  Axtell,  who  as  a  three-year-old 
in  October,  1889,  trotted  to  a  record  of  2.12,  and 
was  sold  to  a  syndicate,  of  which  W.  P.  Ijams  was 
a  prominent  member,  for  $105,000.  Axtell  is  the 
sire  of  113  with  records,  and  prominent  among  his 
trotters  are  Ozanam,  2.07 ;  Elloree,  2.08^,  and 
Praytell,  2.09^.  Thus  far  his  best  speed-producing 
son  is  Axworthy.  Gussie  Wilkes  produced  Allerton, 
who,  as  a  five-year-old  in  1891,  trotted  to  a  high- 
wheel  record  of  2.09^,  and  who  is  a  remarkable  sire. 
Fast  pacers,  as  well  as  fast  trotters,  have  come  from 
him,  and  each  season  adds  to  his  roll  of  honor.  Mr. 
Williams  proved  a  good  trainer  and  driver,  and  for 

320 


o 

ON 


CO 


3§ 


STOUT— WILLIAMS— CATON 

a  time  favors  were  showered  on  him.  After  selling 
Axtell  he  spent  money  lavishly  at  Independence,  la., 
seeking  to  rival  Lexington  as  a  breeding  and  training 
center,  but  the  world  would  not  go  to  what  some  of 
the  wits  called  a  tank  station  on  a  railroad,  and  he 
was  forced  to  abandon  the  scheme.  His  breeding 
and  training  farm  is  now  at  Galesburg,  111.,  and  to 
all  appearances  fickle  fortune  is  again  on  his  side. 
The  career  of  C.  W.  Williams  illustrates  the  roman- 
tic side  of  the  breeding  and  development  industry. 
If  I  were  writing  a  sensational  novel,  I  should  make 
Williams  my  leading  character. 

Axtell,  until  his  death  in  1906,  was  located  at 
Warren  Park,  the  breeding  farm  of  W.  P.  Ijams, 
President  of  the  American  Trotting  Association.  His 
star  steadily  grows  in  luster,  and  his  line  thrills  with 
life.  Terre  Haute  was,  a  few  years  ago,  quite  a 
breeding  center,  but  Warren  Park  is  its  chief  attrac- 
tion now.  Mr.  Ijams  has  made  a  careful  study  of 
the  principles  of  breeding,  and  he  is  reaping  in  this 
special  field  the  benefits  of  knowledge. 

Arthur  J.  Caton  was  a  young  man  highly  charged 
with  enthusiasm  when  he  started  to  found  Caton 
Stock  Farm  at  Joliet,  111.  His  first  stallion  was  Don 
Cossack,  purchased  at  Glenview,  and  by  August 
Belmont,  out  of  Laytham  Lass  by  Alexander's  Ab- 
dallah,  she  out  of  a  daughter  of  Mambrino  Chief. 
Don  Cossack  was  a  large  horse,  and  not  smoothly 
gaited,  but  Mr.  Caton  always  praised  him  to  the 
skies,  especially  when  he  was  having  him  put  in 

321 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

condition  for  horse-show  competition.  He  had  fric- 
tion with  Major  McDowell  at  St.  Louis  over  the 
horse,  and  with  C.  J.  Hamlin  in  Madison  Square 
Garden.  The  latter,  when  the  stallion  died,  sent  Mr. 
Caton  a  telegram  of  congratulation.  It  was  a  deli- 
cate way  of  saying  that  the  horse  was  better  out  of 
the  world  than  in  it,  and  yet  a  daughter  of  Don 
Cossack  produced  Caid,  2.07^.  But  the  sire  of  Caid 
was  Highwood,  2.21^,  by  Nutwood,  dam  Dalphine 
by  Harold;  second  dam  Dahlia  by  Pilot  Jr.;  and, 
as  Highwood  sired  speed  out  of  other  mares,  the 
critics  were  inclined  to  give  him  the  largest  share 
of  credit  for  Caid.  The  third  stallion  purchased  for 
Caton  Stock  Farm  was  Red  Heart  by  Red  Wilkes, 
dam  Sweetheart,  2.22^,  by  Sultan;  second  dam  Min- 
nehaha.  The  sale  was  made  by  Edward  S.  Stokes, 
and,  when  the  authority  of  Stokes  to  sell  was  disputed 
by  Mr.  John  W.  Mackay,  Mr.  Caton  came  to  me 
for  advice.  I  suggested  that  he  call  upon  Mr.  Mac- 
kay and  frankly  explain  how  he  came  to  deal  with 
Stokes.  He  did  so,  and  Mr.  Mackay  was  so  pleased 
that  he  told  Mr.  Caton  to  keep  the  horse,  which  he 
did.  Chain  Shot,  2.06^,  is  the  fastest  of  the  trotters 
by  Red  Heart.  Caton  Stock  Farm  was  closed  out 
in  1902,  its  proprietor  having  developed  a  fondness 
for  the  heavy-harness  horse.  Arthur  J.  Caton  grew 
old  before  the  usual  time,  and  when  I  saw  him  last  his 
halting  step  was  in  sharp  contrast  with  that  which 
characterized  his  movements  when  in  competition 
with  McDowell  and  Hamlin.  He  died  suddenly  at 

322 


STOUT— WILLIAMS— CATON 

the   Waldorf-Astoria    during   the    National   Horse 
Show  of  1904. 

The  view  from  the  residence  of  Mt.  Kisco  Farm  in 
Westchester  County,  New  York,  is  far-reaching,  and 
when  friends  call  on  J.  W.  Daly  there  is  no  absence 
of  good  cheer.  Delmarch,  who  once  was  timidly 
backed  to  beat  Allerton  at  Lexington,  was  the  pre- 
mier stallion  until  Oro  Wilkes  nosed  him  from  the 
place.  Delmarch  trotted  to  a  high-wheel  record  of 
2. 1 1 1,  and  his  sire  Hambrino,  son  of  Edward 
Everett,  had  a  record  of  2.21^.  Ella  G.,  his  dam, 
was  a  producing  daughter  of  George  Wilkes  and 
Widow  Rantoul  by  Ulverston,  son  of  Lexington. 
The  lines  of  Delmarch  are  speed-producing  and  speed- 
supporting,  and  he  is  a  sire  of  trotters  and  pacers  of 
resolute  hearts.  He  has  fifty-four  in  the  list,  thirty 
of  which  are  trotters.  Oro  Wilkes  by  Sable  Wilkes, 
2.18,  out  of  Ellen  Mayhew  by  Director,  2.17,  was 
a  big  money  winner  for  William  Corbitt,  and  he 
trotted  to  a  two-year-old  record  of  2.2iJ,  to  a  three- 
year-old  record  of  2.15,  and  to  a  four-year-old  rec- 
ord of  2.1 1.  Mr.  Daly  showed  good  judgment  when 
he  mated  the  best  mares  at  Mt.  Kisco  with  Oro 
Wilkes.  In  his  brood-mare  band  were  Belle  Archer, 
2.12};  Minnie  Wilkes,  2.17;  Annie  Stevens,  2.18 J, 
and  Oro  Fino,  2.18.  If  Oro  Wilkes  had  remained 
at  Mt.  Kisco  Farm,  he  would  have  continued  to  find 
mates  worthy  of  his  breeding  and  achievements,  but 
Mr.  Daly  contracted  the  selling  fever  in  the  autumn 
of  1903,  and  closed  out  his  stud  under  the  hammer. 

323 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

Mr.  Daly,  like  Mr.  Shults,  was  a  good  buyer  in  the 
dark  days  of  the  industry,  and  those  who  had  horses 
catalogued  to  be  sold  always  were  glad  to  see  him  by 
the  ring  side. 

When  a  trotting  meeting  is  within  reasonable  dis- 
tance of  his  home,  W.  G.  Bennett  lays  aside  his  ju- 
dicial robes  and  hunts  for  a  good  seat  in  the  grand 
stand.  His  Riverside  Stock  Farm  is  at  Weston, 
W.  Va.,  and  one  of  his  stallions  is  Matagorda  by 
Mazatlan  (son  of  Electioneer  and  Rosemont),  dam 
Aida  de  Clare  by  Lord  Russell;  second  dam  Aida 
by  Hambletonian,  and  third  dam  Clara  by  Seely's 
American  Star.  The  wide  distribution  of  this  blood 
combination  should  improve  the  type  of  horses  in 
West  Virginia. 

At  Berlin,  Wis.,  is  a  successful  breeding  estab- 
lishment, Riverside  Park  Farm,  the  home  of  Baron- 
more,  2.144,  a  brown  stallion,  by  Baron  Wilkes,  out 
of  May  Wagner  by  Strathmore,  she  out  of  Mary  S., 
daughter  of  Alcantara  and  Lady  Carr  by  American 
Clay.  These  are  fashionable  blood  lines,  and  the 
rank  of  Baronmore  as  a  sire  of  speed  increases  from 
year  to  year.  His  two  fastest  trotters  are  Barongale, 
2. nj,  and  Peter  Stirling,  who  won  the  Kentucky 
Futurity  in  1901,  taking  a  three-year-old  record  of 
2.H-J.  The  colt  was  then  purchased  by  the  ever- 
green Frank  Work,  and  is  still  a  prominent  member 
of  his  stable. 

Glen  Moore  Farm,  E.  S.  Wells,  is  one  of  the 
prominent  breeding  establishments  of  New  Jersey, 

324 


STOUT— WILLIAMS— CATON 

and  its  premier  stallion  is  Baron  Dillon,  2.12,  by 
Baron  Wilkes,  2.18,  dam  Mattie  Nutwood  by  Nut- 
wood, 2.i8f ;  second  dam  Mattie  Graham,  2.21^,  by 
Harold.  Here  we  have  a  chain  of  developed  indi- 
viduals, and  the  result  is  a  fast  trotter,  and  the  sire 
of  fast  trotters,  one  of  which  is  Baron  Rogers,  2.oyJ. 


325 


CHAPTER  XXXVI 

EAST  VIEW  AND  OTHER  FARMS 

ONE  morning  in  a  drive  from  Tarrytown  to  Bonner 
Farm,  I  noticed  a  large  force  of  men  at  work  on 
the  hill,  digging  and  carting  away  the  rock  and  dirt, 
and  the  explanation  was  given  me  that  the  farm  had 
been  purchased  by  James  Butler,  and  that  the  natural 
obstruction  was  being  removed  to  improve  the  view. 
It  was  a  costly  piece  of  work,  but  it  gave  Mr.  Butler 
an  opportunity  to  name  the  place  East  View  Farm, 
and  since  then  this  name  has  become  famous.  The 
premier  stallion  was  Direct,  2.i8J,  at  four  years  old 
at  the  trot,  and  2.05^  at  the  pace.  The  powerfully 
built  black  of  15.1^  was  bred  at  Pleasanton,  Cal., 
by  Monroe  Salisbury,  who  campaigned  him,  and  was 
by  Director,  2.17,  out  of  Echora,  2.23^.  Although 
trotting  bred,  his  fastest  record  is  at  the  pace,  and 
his  two  fastest  performers  are  pacers — Directly, 
2.03^,  and  Direct  Hal,  2.044.  Direct  is  also  a  sire 
of  fast  trotters,  and  his  sons  and  daughters  are  good 
race  horses.  Directum  Kelly,  who  as  a  four-year- 
old  was  unbeaten,  and  who  trotted  to  a  race  record  of 
2.o8J,  is  by  Direct,  out  of  Rosa  Ludwig  by  Anteeo, 
2.16^,  son  of  Electioneer  and  Columbine,  and  he  is 
attracting  attention  as  a  sire.  His  daughter,  Princess 
Athel,  trotted  in  1904  to  a  three-year-old  record  of 


A  GROUP  AT  EAST  VIEW  FARM 

F.    A.    HAMMOND  JOHN   H.    SHULTS  JAMES   BUTLER 

W.    M.    FLIESS  DAVID   BONNER  HAMILTON   BUSBEY 


EAST  VIEW    AND   OTHER   FARMS 

2.14.  Mr.  Butler  is  choice  as  to  brood  mares,  and 
success  has  come  and  will  continue  to  come  to  him 
by  adhering  to  this  policy.  The  owner  of  East  View 
Farm  usually  has  two  campaign  stables  out  each 
summer,  and  he  contributes  to  the  general  entertain- 
ment, even  when  he  does  not  win  a  majority  of  the 
purses. 

Long  before  Robert  Bonner  had  thought  of  own- 
ing a  champion  trotter  out  of  Miss  Russell,  his 
brother  David  was  driving  Cora  Belmont  by  Bel- 
mont,  out  of  Miss  Russell,  on  the  road,  and  pre- 
paring her  for  what  he  hoped  would  be  a  great 
career.  But  Cora  Belmont  was  injured  in  being 
frightened  by  a  passing  street  car,  and  then  an  offer 
was  made  for  her  by  William  Simpson,  which  was 
accepted,  and  the  sister  of  Nutwood  earned  a  place 
in  the  table  of  Great  Brood  Mares.  Mr.  Simpson 
was  a  very  modest  buyer  of  trotters  up  to  that  time. 
At  Cuba,  N.  Y.,  he  founded  Empire  City  Stud,  and 
the  pedigrees  to  which  he  drew  public  attention  were 
gilt-edged.  Outside  of  Governor  Stanford,  he  was 
the  only  breeder  who  could  point  to  a  stallion  by 
Electioneer,  out  of  a  daughter  of  George  Wilkes. 
Hummer  was  bred  at  Palo  Alto,  and  his  sire,  Elec- 
tioneer, was  the  rival  of  George  Wilkes,  from  whose 
loins  came  Edith,  dam  of  Hummer.  The  best  trotter 
sired  by  Hummer  was  Bouncer,  a  mare  campaigned 
by  Mr.  Simpson,  and  who  trotted  to  a  record  of  2.09. 
Edith,  bred  to  Mendocino,  son  of  Electioneer,  pro- 
duced Idolita,  who  trotted  to  a  record  of  2.12  at 

327 


RECOLLECTIONS   OF   MEN  AND   HORSES 

three  years  old,  and  who  at  six  years  old  reduced  this 
record  to  2.09^.  Idolita  was  at  the  head  of  John 
J.  ScannePs  The  Abbot  Farm,  at  Fishkill  Landing, 
until  he  was  sold  in  November,  1904.  Mr.  Simpson 
bought  John  R.  Gentry  for  the  campaign  stable  of 
W.  J.  Andrews,  and  later  sold  the  handsome  pacer 
at  a  big  profit.  Many  changes  have  taken  place  at 
Empire  City  Stud,  but  the  most  important  move 
was  made  by  Mr.  Simpson  during  the  1904,  Octo- 
ber, meeting  at  Lexington,  when  he  purchased  from 
H.  B.  Gentry  of  Gentry  Stock  Farm,  Bloomington, 
Inch,  the  great  stallion  McKinney,  2.1  ij,  by  Alcyone, 
out  of  Rosa  Sprague  by  Governor  Sprague,  for 
$50,000.  Mr.  Simpson  witnessed  the  fierce  duel  for 
Transylvania  honors  at  Lexington  between  Tiverton 
and  Sweet  Marie,  and,  when  the  latter  won  and  re- 
duced her  record  to  2.04!,  he  could  not  resist  the 
impulse  to  buy  her  sire,  McKinney.  In  December, 
1906,  Axworthy,  the  great  sire  of  young  trotters, 
was  purchased  for  $21,000. 

Chas.  Whittemore,  who  established  Lookout  Farm 
at  South  Natick,  Mass.,  was  fortunate  in  securing 
for  his  leading  stallion  May  King,  2.20,  by  Elec- 
tioneer, out  of  May  Queen,  2.20,  by  Alexander's 
Norman,  she  out  of  Jenny  by  Crockett's  Arabian. 
Bingen,  2.o6J,  who  was  the  choice  of  Forbes  Farm 
stallions  until  after  the  death  of  Mr.  Forbes,  when 
he  was  sold  to  Mr.  A.  H.  Parker  for  $32,000,  is 
the  best  son  of  May  King.  When  I  first  knew  May 
Queen  she  was  a  green  mare  at  the  place  of  Colonel 

328 


J.  M.  JOHNSON 


EAST   VIEW    AND   OTHER   FARMS 

Richard  West,  Georgetown,  Ky.,  and  was  called 
Bourbon  Girl.  She  was  sold  to  Ewing  &  Williams 
of  Tennessee,  who  changed  her  name  to  Nashville 
Girl,  and  campaigned  her.  Next  she  became  a  mem- 
ber of  the  stable  of  Joseph  Harker  of  New  York, 
who  changed  her  name  to  May  Queen,  and,  at  Utica, 
N.  Y.,  in  1875,  ne  Put  a  record  of  2.20  on  her.  Mr. 
Harker  thought  a  great  deal  of  May  Queen,  but, 
when  he  got  into  deep  water,  was  glad  to  sell  her 
to  Governor  Stanford,  who  took  her  to  Palo  Alto 
and  bred  her  to  Electioneer,  and  thus  produced  the 
sire  of  Bingen. 

Calais  Stock  Farm  at  Calais,  Maine,  is  owned  by 
Hon.  J.  M.  Johnson,  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Ap- 
peals of  the  National  Trotting  Association,  and  he 
sent  Fanella,  by  Arion,  2.oyf,  to  Bingen,  and  pro- 
duced Todd,  2.14! .  As  a  brood  mare  Fanella  trotted 
to  a  record  of  2.13,  and  she  is  the  dam  of  Sadie 
Mac,  who  trotted  to  a  three-year-old  record  of  2.1 1£. 
Sadie  Mac  is  by  Peter  the  Great,  2.07^,  and  she  has 
a  matinee  record  of  2.08!  at  three  years  old.  At 
the  closing-out  sale  of  Forbes  Farm  Mr.  Johnson 
bought  Nancy  Hanks,  2.04,  and  the  ex-queen  of  the 
trotting  turf  lends  luster  to  his  establishment. 


329 


CHAPTER  XXXVII 

A   COSTLY  DINNER  IN   A    STABLE 

THE  elevation  of  Theodore  Roosevelt  to  the  Gov- 
ernor's chair  of  the  State  of  New  York,  1899-1900, 
decided  a  wager  of  $5000  a  side,  made  in  the  heat 
of  the  campaign,  against  Colonel  William  L.  Brown, 
and  in  favor  of  William  H.  Clark.  The  latter,  like 
his  opponent,  was  a  member  of  Tammany  Hall,  and 
the  wager  caused  no  little  talk.  Mr.  Clark,  who 
had  bred,  owned,  driven,  and  raced  trotters,  sud- 
denly changed  platforms,  and  his  career  on  the  run- 
ning turf  was  spectacular.  In  the  spring  of  1899  he 
won  the  Brooklyn  Handicap  with  Banistar  in  record- 
breaking  time,  2.o6i,  and  the  same  season  his  costly 
venture,  Empire  City  Park,  was  opened  with  a  trot- 
ting meeting.  The  glitter  was  not  the  glitter  of  gold. 
The  shadows  rapidly  gathered  which  finally  put  Mr. 
Clark  in  total  eclipse,  but  appearances  were  kept  up 
to  the  end.  The  major  portion  of  the  check  for 
$5000  which  Colonel  Brown  handed  to  the  winner 
was  expended  on  a  dinner,  which  excited  curiosity 
and  became  the  talk  of  the  country.  The  invitations 
to  this  dinner,  held  in  Mr.  Clark's  private  stable, 
in  the  upper  part  of  the  West  Side,  were  carefully 
guarded,  and  the  guests  included  ex-Mayor  Thomas 
F.  Gilroy  and  prominent  members  of  the  Stock  Ex- 

330 


A   COSTLY   DINNER   IN  A   STABLE 

change,  and  of  the  Merchants'  Club  and  the  Colonial 
Club.  The  stable  was  one  of  the  best  appointed  in 
the  City  of  New  York,  and  the  horses  which  Mr. 
Clark  drove  in  single  and  double  harness  and  four- 
in-hand  occupied  roomy  and  well-ventilated  stalls  in 
the  rear  part  of  the  building.  The  big  carriage  room 
in  front  was  converted  into  a  dining  hall.  So  scrupu- 
lously neat  was  everything  that  the  most  delicate  nose 
was  not  offended  by  stable  odor,  and  the  coats  of  the 
carefully  groomed  horses  were  suggestive  of  the  spar- 
kle of  diamonds. 

The  table  was  in  the  form  of  a  big  horseshoe,  and 
among  the  favors  were  golden  horseshoes  with  bands 
of  satin  to  tie  around  the  neck.  The  dinner  was  the 
best  that  Delmonico  could  provide,  and  the  wines 
were  of  the  choicest  vintage.  As  Colonel  Brown  was 
really  paying  for  the  entertainment,  he  sat  at  the 
head  of  the  table  and  acted  as  toastmaster.  The  fun 
began  with  the  speech-making.  Every  orator  was 
interrupted,  and  with  mock  gravity  deputy  sheriffs 
were  ordered  to  remove  noisy  objectors  from  the 
banquet  table.  A  vaudeville  followed,  and  the  crown- 
ing act  was  leading  a  string  of  high-spirited  horses 
around  and  up  to  the  head  of  the  table,  and  offering 
them  champagne  in  a  big  silver  bowl.  At  this  stage 
of  the  proceedings,  E.  R.  Bowne,  a  stock  broker, 
leaped  to  the  back  of  a  fiery  bay  horse,  and  he  cut  quite 
a  figure  as  he  sat  erect  in  full  dress.  Cheers  greeted 
the  bold  adventure,  and  the  horse  was  so  excited  that 
he  came  very  near  wrecking  the  table.  Ex-Mayor 


RECOLLECTIONS   OF  MEN  AND   HORSES 

Gilroy  withdrew  with  me  into  a  corner  and  waited 
for  the  storm  to  subside.  The  most  jaded  appetite 
in  the  gilded  rounds  of  New  York  was  whetted  by 
the  novel  scene.  It  was  three  o'clock  in  the  morning 
when  guests  said  good-night  to  the  host,  and  then  a 
new  problem  had  to  be  solved.  A  bitter  snowstorm 
had  raged  during  the  hours  of  festivity,  and  the 
streets  were  almost  impassable.  Some  of  the  guests 
were  forced  to  seek  shelter  in  nearby  hotels.  It  was 
not  long  after  this  that  William  H.  Clark  was  de- 
cided a  bankrupt,  and  the  terrible  reversal  of  form 
broke  his  heart  and  sent  him  to  an  early  grave.  Col- 
onel Wm.  L.  Brown  was  with  us  up  to  December, 
1906,  but  the  sensational  dinner  in  which  he  played  a 
prominent  part  was  seldom  mentioned  by  him. 


332 


CHAPTER  XXXVIII 

THE   EDUCATION  OF  THE  YOUNG 

J.  H.  YOUNG,  the  able  trainer  at  Allen  Farm,  whose 
experience  is  not  confined  to  one  section  of  the  coun- 
try, at  my  urgent  request  prepared  the  following  for 
this  volume: 

"  In  regard  to  describing  my  system  of  training 
colts,  I  am  afraid  that  it  will  be  a  hard  thing  to  do.  If 
you  were  here  I  could  tell  it  to  you  much  better,  but 
will  try,  and  will  begin  with  yearlings.  After  they 
are  broken  so  that  you  can  drive  them  all  right  (and 
there  is  no  trouble  at  Allen  Farm  in  that  respect,  as 
they  are  all  well  and  carefully  broken  as  weanlings) , 
we  take  them  up  in  the  fall,  after  a  run  on  grass, 
shoe  them  as  light  as  possible,  and  have  them  go 
good-gaited.  I  would  prefer  a  six-ounce  shoe  and 
three-ounce  weight  to  a  nine-ounce  shoe.  Always 
boot  them  well  from  the  first,  for  if  a  colt  at  the  start 
brushes  or  hits  himself,  he  will  become  afraid  and 
break  and  get  unsteady,  if  ever  so  slight,  and  it  is 
very  hard  to  get  them  steady  if  they  once  form  the 
habit  of  jumping,  and  they  will  form  that  habit  in 
two  work-outs.  Another  thing  that  I  am  particular 
about  is  that  the  bit  is  an  easy  one  and  fits  the  mouth 
well.  I  jog  but  very  little  on  a  half-mile  track.  I 
jog  once  around,  step  them  lightly  through  the  last 
eighth,  pull  up,  jog  slowly  around  to  the  same  eighth, 
step  them  a  little  faster,  pull  up  and  jog  slowly  again 
around  to  the  same  eighth,  and  step  them  as  fast  as 

333 


RECOLLECTIONS   OF   MEN  AND   HORSES 

they  can  go,  and  go  good-gaited;  always  drive  them 
with  a  light  hand,  and  repeat  the  same  work  daily 
for  ten  days  or  two  weeks.  At  the  end  of  that  time 
you  will  be  surprised  at  the  way  they  have  improved. 
One  thing  you  want  to  have  is  your  track  in  as  good 
shape  as  it  can  be  put.  In  regard  to  the  footing,  do 
not  think  that  colts  will  do  well  or  improve  fast 
where  the  footing  is  cuppy,  or  breaks  out  under  them. 
At  the  end  of  their  ten  days'  work,  we  give  them  a 
trial  of  a  quarter,  and  sometimes  a  half.  Last  fall 
I  worked  twenty  yearlings  for  two  weeks  as  above. 
Out  of  the  twenty,  twelve  of  them  stepped  eighths 
in  20  seconds  or  better,  one  an  eighth  in  17^  seconds, 
a  quarter  in  37  seconds,  a  half  in  1.19,  and  six  of 
them  stepped  eighths  from  18  to  19  seconds,  and 
quarters  from  39  to  43  seconds.  All  work  was  to  a 
light  cart.  I  prefer  a  light  cart  to  a  sulky.  At  the 
end  of  two  weeks'  work  let  up  on  them.  But,  if 
you  have  time,  after  a  run  on  grass  of  two  weeks, 
take  them  up  and  give  them  the  same  kind  of 
work  as  you  did  in  the  first  two  weeks.  They 
will  improve  very  much  faster  after  taking  up  the 
second  time.  As  a  rule  the  second  or  third  time 
you  step  them  they  will  show  as  much  speed  as  they 
did  at  the  end  of  the  last  work-out;  and  from  that 
time  on,  if  all  goes  right,  will  make  speed  through  the 
second  two  weeks'  work,  and  will  stand  stepping  one 
or  two  fast  eighths  every  day  and  improve.  Then 
let  up  on  them ;  and  the  ones  that  you  think  are  good 
enough  to  go  on  with,  and  work  as  two-year-olds, 
keep  up  through  the  winter,  and  jog  both  single  and 
double,  but  not  far  at  a  time.  I  never  jog  a  yearling 
further  than  three  miles,  and  most  of  the  time  only 
two  miles  in  the  winter  or  summer.  I  think  that  one 
of  the  worst  things  that  you  can  do  for  a  yearling 

334 


THE   EDUCATION    OF   THE   YOUNG 

that  you  want  to  make  speed  with  is  long  jogging, 
either  on  the  track  or  road.  They  get  lazy  and  care- 
less, hit  their  ankles,  and  get  fussy  with  the  check 
and  bit,  and  lose  speed.  I  never  want  to  get  a  year- 
ling tired  or  leg  weary;  give  him  just  work  enough 
to  take  the  edge  off.  When  they  are  two-year-olds, 
if  they  have  been  jogged  all  winter,  which  they 
should  be,  and  are  in  good  condition,  I  begin 
by  giving  them  a  little  faster  work,  jogging  them 
along  a  little  faster,  and  at  the  end  of  the  second 
or  third  mile  letting  them  move  along  for  a  short 
distance,  an  eighth  mile,  somewhere  around  a  three- 
minute  gait,  but  am  careful  not  to  let  them  step  any- 
where up  to  their  speed,  for  some  time,  say  ten  days 
or  two  weeks.  After  they  have  had  that  kind  of 
work,  I  begin  to  give  them  slow  repeats  twice  a 
week,  each  repeat  of  two  heats  each,  and  I  govern 
myself  by  the  amount  of  speed  they  could  show  the 
fall  before  as  yearlings,  of  which  I  keep  a  record, 
and  I  find  it  a  great  help  to  me.  If  a  colt  could 
show,  as  a  yearling,  an  eighth  in  20  seconds,  after 
the  above  work,  I  would  work  him  a  mile  in  3.15 
or  3.20,  evenly  rated.  The  second  mile  in  3.10,  step- 
ping the  last  eighth  in  21  or  22  seconds,  and  every 
week  drop  him  a  second  or  two  until  he  can  step 
a  mile  in  2.45  or  2.40,  with  the  last  eighth  around 
1 8  seconds.  I  am  speaking,  now,  of  working  over 
a  good  track,  where  the  footing  is  kept  in  good  shape. 
When  he  shows  me  a  mile  in  2.40,  with  the  last 
eighth  as  good  as  18  seconds,  I  begin  a  little  different 
work.  I  give  him  two  slow  miles,  say  on  Tuesday 
in  2.50  and  2.45,  evenly  rated;  on  Friday  one  in  2.50, 
evenly  rated,  the  second  in  2.40,  with  the  last  quar- 
ter in  37  seconds.  If  he  will  do  it  in  good  shape,  and 
I  think  he  will,  the  next  week,  if  all  goes  right,  would 

335 


RECOLLECTIONS   OP   MEN   AND    HORSES 

work  him  in  2.45  and  2.40,  evenly  rated,  and  on 
Friday  would  work  him  the  first  mile  in  2.45.  The 
second  mile  I  would  try  and  step  him  each  quarter  in 
40  seconds  to  the  three-quarter  pole,  and  then  I  would 
drive  him  from  there  as  fast  as  he  could  go  to  the 
wire,  and  I  think  you  will  find  that  you  have  stepped 
the  last  quarter  of  a  mile  in  36  or  35  seconds.  Keep 
on  with  the  same  kind  of  work  for  several  more  work- 
outs, dropping  your  miles  down  a  very  little  faster 
each  week,  until  your  colt  can  trot  a  mile  in  2.35, 
with  the  last  quarter  in  35  seconds.  I  would  then 
begin  to  step  him  away  from  the  wire,  if  I  intended 
to  start  him  in  his  two-year-old  form.  You  will  find 
at  the  start  that  he  will  not  get  away  very  fast,  and 
will  have  to  be  careful.  But,  by  not  rushing  him 
too  fast  the  first  time  or  two,  he  will  learn  very  fast. 
In  his  repeat  the  first  part  of  the  week,  say  in  2.45 
or  2.40,  I  would  try  and  step  the  first  quarter  of  the 
second  mile  in  38  seconds,  then  take  him  back  and 
finish  the  mile  around  2.40.  His  second  work  in 
the  week  I  would  give  him  an  evenly  rated  mile 
around  2.40,  and  the  second  mile  I  would  step  him 
the  first  quarter  as  fast  as  he  could  go,  and  go  good- 
gaited.  If  he  goes  well,  should  step  the  quarter  in 
36  or  37  seconds.  Then  take  him  back  to  a  2.40 
gait  to  the  seven-eighths  pole  and  step  him  from 
there  home  as  fast  as  he  can  go.  Work  him  along 
in  the  same  way  until  he  can  step  a  quarter  away 
from  the  wire  in  35  seconds.  When  he  can  do  that, 
I  would  begin  to  give  him  three  repeats  once  a  week, 
and  an  easy  repeat  of  two  heats  in  the  forepart  of 
the  week,  and  the  latter  part  of  the  week,  if  he 
comes  along  all  right,  and  is  staying  in  good  shape, 
would  work  him  in  2.50,  and  the  last  heat  would 
drive  him  the  first  quarter  in  36  seconds;  take  him 

336 


THE   EDUCATION   OF   THE  YOUNG 

back  to  a  2.40  gait  and  drive  him  home  from  the 
three-quarter  pole  as  fast  as  he  can  trot,  which  ought 
to  be  in  34  or  35  seconds,  and  the  mile  close  to  2.30. 
Keep  on  with  him,  giving  him  slow  heats  the  first  part 
of  the  week,  and  better  than  2.40,  and  the  latter  part 
of  the  week  step  him  a  fast  quarter  away  and  one 
home,  but  be  careful  not  to  rush  him  too  fast.  If 
you  do,  you  are  apt  to  get  him  to  taking  hold  too 
strong  and  going  bad-gaited.  After  this  kind  of 
work  for  a  few  weeks  he  should  be  able  to  trot  the 
first  quarter  in  35  seconds,  and,  with  the  middle  half 
easy,  should  trot  the  last  quarter  in  33^  or  34  sec- 
onds. Now  with  a  very  few  rated  miles  from  2.30 
to  2.28,  with  an  occasional  fast  eighth  or  quarter 
at  the  end  of  the  mile,  I  think  your  colt  is  ready  to 
trot  a  mile  in  2.20,  or  better,  the  first  time  you  ask 
him  to  step  a  full  mile.  After  that  it  is  simply  a 
matter  of  judgment,  going  on  with  him  and  getting 
him  to  the  races.  Anyone  who  has  trained  one  until 
he  can  trot  a  mile  from  2.25  to  2.20  ought  to  be 
capable  of  going  on  and  making  a  good  showing 
with  him,  if  he  does  not  have  too  much  bad  luck. 
Now,  at  any  time  through  his  work,  if  he  should 
act  as  though  he  were  getting  tired  of  it,  or  stale, 
let  up  on  him  at  once.  Do  not  put  a  harness  on  him 
for  ten  days,  but  let  the  man  who  takes  care  of  him 
lead  him  out  with  a  halter  early  in  the  morning  and 
again  at  evening,  from  a  half  hour  to  an  hour ;  let  him 
pick  grass,  nose  around,  eat  dirt,  roll,  and  do  about 
as  he  pleases.  At  the  end  of  his  ten  days'  let-up 
jog  him  for  two  or  three  days,  then  give  him  a 
couple  of  slow  repeats.  By  that  time  you  will  find 
out  that  he  can  show  as  much  speed  as  he  could  be- 
fore his  let-up,  and  you  will  be  surprised  to  see  how 
fast  he  will  come.  While  let  up,  get  all  the  chafes 

337, 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

and  cracks  in  heels  cured  up,  if  any;  watch  his  mouth 
closely.  I  think  a  colt's  mouth  wants  a  great  deal  more 
attention  than  an  old  horse's,  and  I  never  could  get 
one  to  do  well  if  his  mouth  bothered  him  the  least 
bit.  Have  him  well  booted  with  boots  that  fit,  and 
will  not  chafe  every  time  that  you  start  him  up, 
and  about  the  best  help  that  you  can  have  is  a  good 
prompter,  one  that  you  can  place  where  you  want  him, 
and  every  time  that  you  start  him  up  for  an  eighth 
or  a  quarter  of  a  mile,  have  him  go  with  you,  some- 
times behind  him,  sometimes  in  front,  and  other  times 
at  his  side.  It  will  encourage  him  and  get  him  used 
to  company  and  noise.  Running  in  front  of  him  will 
get  him  used  to  having  dirt  kicked  in  his  face.  I  pre- 
fer, if  I  have  good  capable  men  to  take  care  of 
them,  to  let  them  give  the  colts  their  slow  work, 
jogging  and  walking,  as  I  like  to  have  them  know  that 
when  I  get  up  behind  them  it  is  their  day  to  step, 
and  they  soon  learn  it.  I  have  had  colts  that  would 
jog  along  with  the  man  that  took  care  of  them  quite 
easy,  as  though  they  did  not  care  for  a  thing  in  the 
world.  Pull  up  and  I  would  get  in  behind  them, 
turn  the  right  way  of  the  track,  and  they  would 
brighten  up  and  want  to  step  right  away  for  your 
life.  They  knew  that  there  was  a  change,  and  that 
it  was  their  day  to  step,  and  they  liked  to  do  it. 
In  regard  to  three-year-olds,  I  have  not  much  to 
say,  as  I  would  work  them  very  much  the  same  as 
two-year-olds,  with  more  heats  per  week,  from  three 
to  four  heats  in  each  work-out,  with  fast  quarters  at 
the  start  and  finish  of  the  heats,  as  I  thought  best, 
which  would  be  judged  by  the  colt.  .If  a  colt  with 
a  lot  of  speed,  he  will  not  want  many  fast  quarters, 
but  more  rated  miles  with  only  a  fast  quarter  or  half 
once  in  a  while.  If  he  is  lazy  in  disposition,  then  he 

338 


THE   EDUCATION    OF   THE   YOUNG 

will  require  more  fast  work  and  more  brushing.  It 
is  pretty  hard  work  to  strike  the  happy  medium  in 
working  a  three-year-old,  and  give  him  just  the  right 
kind  of  work,  neither  too  much  nor  too  little.  If 
you  are  getting  him  ready  to  start  in  big  stakes,  he 
will  have  to  have  a  lot  of  both  slow  and  fast  heats, 
or  heats  with  fast  work  part  of  the  mile.  A  three- 
year-old  colt  that  has  been  worked  as  a  two-year-old, 
that  has  been  wintered  well  and  is  sound,  and  has 
speed,  will  stand  almost  as  much  work  as  an  aged 
horse,  and  rest  out  of  his  work  much  sooner.  One 
thing  I  will  say  in  regard  to  keeping  them  sound — 
shoe  as  light  as  possible;  if  you  have  to  have  any 
weight,  use  it  in  the  shape  of  a  toe-weight,  then  your 
colt  will  not  have  to  carry  it  in  his  slow  work.  Also 
teach  your  colt  to  trot  with  as  short  a  toe  as  you  can. 
Once  in  a  while  you  will  find  one  that  will  have  to 
have  a  fairly  good  length  of  toe,  and  cannot  go  with- 
out it.  The  same  in  regard  to  weight,  but  as  a  rule, 
if  you  begin  with  them  at  the  start,  you  will  not  have 
much  trouble  in  teaching  them  to  go  light  and  with  a 
short  toe. 

"  Training  under  the  above  system,  I  have  given 
more  than  one  hundred  horses  and  colts  records." 


339 


CHAPTER  XXXIX 

FIRST  AID  IN  DISEASE   AND   LAMENESS 

IN  all  the  varied  walks  of  life  it  has  been  thor- 
oughly demonstrated  that  it  requires  neither  a 
stretching  of  the  imagination,  nor  logical  reasoning, 
to  establish  the  fact  that  the  best  results  can  only 
be  obtained  by  employing  the  best  available  means, 
and  it  is  but  natural  that  those  equipped  by  educa- 
tion and  experience  should  in  a  broad  sense  consti- 
tute that  means.  If  there  is  anything  that  demands 
the  best  care  and  treatment  from  us,  it  is  the  horse, 
and  upon  this  care  much  of  his  usefulness  depends. 
Therefore,  it  would  seem  the  proper  thing  to  select 
for  a  care  taker  the  most  experienced  and  humanely 
disposed  person  it  is  possible  to  secure,  and  to  em- 
ploy the  skill  of  the  veterinarian  for  his  ailments,  but 
there  are  times  and  circumstances  when  the  veterina- 
rian is  not  available,  and  to  meet  this  phase  of  the 
subject  is  the  object  of  this  short  sketch.  With  the 
veterinarian  miles  away,  and  the  case  demanding  im- 
mediate attention,  those  owning,  as  well  as  being 
entrusted  with  the  care  of,  the  animals  should  be 
provided  with  a  few  rules  to  be  observed  in  emer- 
gencies. 

Perhaps  the  most  common  trouble  with  the  horse 
is  spasmodic  colic,  and  this  is  so  common  that  nearly 
all  horsemen  will  detect  it  at  a  glance,  the  symptoms 
being  very  similar  in  all  cases — i.  e.}  lying  down  and 
rolling  from  side  to  side,  and  showing  a  strong  in- 
clination to  lie  on  the  back,  with  feet  elevated  and 

340 


FIRST   AID    IN    DISEASE   AND   LAMENESS 

the  head  turned  to  one  side;  and  when  upon  the 
feet  the  nose  is  either  touching  or  pointing  to  the 
flank.  There  will  also  be  noticed  intervals  of  relief 
between  the  spasms.  This  trouble  is  seldom  serious, 
and  will  in  nearly  all  cases  yield  to  two  ounces  each 
of  sulphurous  ether  and  laudanum  in  a  pint  of  warm 
water,  the  dose  to  be  repeated  in  an  hour,  if  necessary. 
The  attack,  however,  may  assume  the  tympanetic 
form  (swelling),  and  the  case  become  serious.  This 
may  call  for  the  introduction  of  the  trocar,  a  pointed 
instrument  enclosed  in  a  sheath  or  tube,  and  intro- 
duced into  the  right  flank.  This  in  many  cases 
affords  almost  instant  relief,  and  may  be  employed 
by  anyone,  as  there  is  no  risk  in  its  use.  When  this 
treatment  is  not  available,  one  ounce  of  chloral  hy- 
drate in  a  pint  of  water,  or  the  same  quantity  of 
salicylate  of  soda,  will  often  prove  beneficial.  In 
either  case,  if  a  drugstore  is  not  accessible,  one  pint 
of  whisky  and  an  ounce  each  of  ground  ginger  root 
and  black  pepper  in  a  pint  of  water  will  often  prove 
effective. 

Another  very  common  ailment,  and  one  which  the 
horse-owner  should  be  prepared  to  meet,  is  a  high 
febrile  condition,  an  acute  influenza — better  known 
as  "  pink  eye."  It  usually  follows  the  moving  of 
horses  from  one  to  another  part  of  the  country. 
This  seems  to  be  the  result  of  exposure,  change  of 
climate,  water,  feeding,  care,  etc.  The  first  symp- 
toms of  this  malady  are  loss  of  appetite,  high  fever, 
eyes  much  swollen,  partly  closed,  and  a  generally  disr 
tressed  appearance;  ana,  inasmuch  as  there  is  a 
strong  tendency  to  pneumonia,  the  febrile  condition 
should  be  reduced  as  quickly  as  possible.  Some  prac- 
titioners favor  a  cathartic,  but  when  we  take  into 
consideration  the  debilitating  character  of  the  attack 

341 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF    MEN   AND    HORSES 

it  becomes  a  question  if  this  is  good  practice.  We 
believe  it  is  better  and  safer  to  reduce  the  fever  with 
the  aid  of  febrifuges,  and  there  is  no  better  than 
equal  parts  of  tincture  of  aconite  root  and  veratrum 
veridi  mixed;  give  in  one-drachm  doses,  hourly,  until 
five  or  six  doses  have  been  given.  This  should  be 
diluted  in  a  little  water,  as  it  is  of  a  slightly  irritating 
nature,  and  in  some  cases  liable  to  irritate  the  mucous 
membranes  of  the  mouth  and  throat.  After  two 
days  of  this  treatment  the  fever  will  usually  show  a 
tendency  to  subside,  when  the  dose  should  be  changed 
to  three  ounces  of  alcohol  and  one  drachm  of  sulphate 
of  quinine,  three  times  a  day.  This  treatment  is 
usually  sufficient.  The  case  usually  runs  its  course  in 
from  five  to  seven  days,  but,  to  meet  any  complication 
that  may  follow  the  attack,  it  is  perhaps  best  to  con- 
sult a  veterinarian. 

It  often  occurs,  and  especially  during  the  changing 
of  the  seasons,  that  the  horse  gradually  loses  his 
appetite,  shows  a  drawn  appearance  about  the  flanks, 
the  skin  becomes  tight,  coat  stares,  habit  sluggish, 
faeces  hard  and  scanty,  loses  flesh  rapidly,  or  the  ap- 
petite may  even  continue  unimpaired.  This  condition 
may,  in  nearly  all  instances,  be  traced  to  indigestion, 
and  will  readily  yield  to  a  drastic  cathartic,  about 
one  ounce  of  Barbadoes  aloes  for  the  average-sized 
driving  horse.  This,  however,  should  be  preceded 
by  one  day's  dieting  on  sloppy  feed,  or  bran  mash; 
such  cases  treated  early  may  ward  off,  sometimes, 
rather  serious  complications. 

We  have  often  been  amused  at  the  distress  shown 
by  some  horsemen  of  experience  at  the  loss  of  a  shoe 
during  a  drive,  and  we  recall  one  instance  where 
the  laprobe  was  taken  from  the  wagon  and  wrapped 
around  the  foot  to  save  it  from  injury,  and  the 

342 


FIRST  AID   IN   DISEASE   AND   LAMENESS 

drive  spoiled,  all  from  the  mistaken  idea  that  some- 
thing serious  was  about  to  happen  the  animal,  when 
the  fact  is,  the  average  horse  will  travel  miles  on 
any  kind  of  road  or  pavement  without  sustaining  any 
injury  to  the  foot  that  cannot  be  repaired  by  two  or 
three  hours'  soaking  in  a  tub  of  warm  water,  or  a 
flaxseed  meal  poultice.  The  wear,  or  breakage,  is 
seldom  more  than  the  smith  will  remove  in  the  aver- 
age foot. 

We  have  often  removed  the  shoes  during  the  win- 
ter season,  and  used  the  animal  daily  over  both  coun- 
try roads  and  city  streets  for  a  week,  or  even  a  fort- 
night, without  sustaining  any  injury  to  the  feet.  Of 
course  the  amount  of  wear  depends  much  upon  the 
character  of  the  foot.  We  believe  much  benefit  may 
be  obtained  by  this  method,  incipient  disease  of  the 
parts  arrested,  and  in  some  cases  a  cure  effected,  espe- 
cially in  a  case  of  incipient  navicular  disease.  One 
of  the  banes  of  the  horse  owner's  life  is  in  the  fre- 
quency of  injury  that  horses  receive  from  puncture 
wounds  of  the  feet,  and  from  nails,  and  other  pointed 
instruments,  along  the  route  of  the  drive ;  such  cases 
demand  immediate  attention.  Many  a  valuable  ani- 
mal has  been  sacrificed  to  a  neglect  to  apply  early 
treatment.  The  shoe  should  be  removed  at  the  earliest 
possible  moment,  the  parts  liberally  pared  around 
the  point  of  injury,  and  a  bold  incision  made  of  such 
magnitude  as  to  allow  a  free  escape  of  pus,  which  is 
almost  sure  to  follow.  If  this  is  not  sufficient,  the 
swelling  is  almost  sure  to  close  the  orifice,  causing  a 
retention  of  the  pus,  and  often  seriously  complicat- 
ing the  case.  We  maintain  that  with  a  sufficient 
opening  lock-jaw  need  not  be  feared.  A  liberal  flow 
of  blood  often  proves  the  means  of  forcing  extraneous 
matter  from  the  wound,  and  thus  becomes  a  cleansing 

343 


RECOLLECTIONS   OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

medium.  When  the  opening  has  been  made,  and  the 
blood  ceases  to  flow,  a  little  of  the  oil  of  turpentine 
should  be  introduced,  and  a  poultice  of  flaxseed  meal 
applied  when  the  case  may  be  considered  in  a  con- 
dition to  await  the  veterinarian's  coming. 

There  is  perhaps  no  ailment  that  gives  rise  to  more 
apprehension  and  causes  more  excitement  than  an 
attack  of  blind-staggers,  sometimes  called  "  me- 
grims," and  there  is  no  ailment  where  a  remedy  is 
more  eagerly  sought  after,  when,  in  fact,  none  is  re- 
quired. A  favorite,  but  useless,  practice  is  to  plunge 
a  knife  blade  into  the  hard  palate  of  the  mouth,  with 
a  recklessness  that  often  causes  serious  hemorrhage, 
and  especially  so  when  the  palatal  artery  has  been 
severed.  That  this  procedure  is  unnecessary  is 
shown  by  the  fact  that  the  violence  of  the  attack  has 
begun  to  subside  before  the  victim  can  be  gotten  quiet 
enough  to  permit  the  treatment.  When  the  attack  is 
first  observed  coming  on,  if  there  is  sufficient  time 
allowed,  the  animal  should  be  taken  from  the  wagon, 
the  harness  removed  and  then  kept  in  as  quiet  a  posi- 
tion as  possible.  No  horse  ever  died  from  this 
trouble.  It  is  always  well  to  have  a  veterinarian  see 
a  horse  that  has  passed  through  one  of  these  ordeals, 
and  he  may  be  able  to  detect  and  remove  the  cause. 
When  the  attack  is  of  such  a  character  that  the  victim 
merely  trembles,  partially  loses  consciousness,  falls 
and  quickly  regains  its  feet,  and  then  passes  off  in 
a  few  moments,  such  a  case  in  itself  need  not  be 
viewed  seriously,  but  one  can  never  tell  when  it 
may  assume  a  more  violent  form  and  the  animal 
start  to  run.  Such  an  animal  cannot  be  controlled, 
and  is  almost  sure,  sooner  or  later,  to  get  itself,  or 
the  owner,  into  trouble,  and  the  proper  procedure  is 
to  dispose  of  the  horse  at  once. 

344 


FIRST  AID   IN    DISEASE   AND   LAMENESS 

During  the  warm  months  many  horses  suddenly 
contract  laminitis  ("founder"),  and  there  is  no 
condition  that  calls  for  immediate  treatment  more 
than  this  one,  and  unless  relief  is  quickly  afforded  the 
soles  of  the  feet  will  in  many  cases  drop,  and  the  ani- 
mal become  a  permanent  cripple.  It  does  not  follow 
that  a  patient  should  have  drunk  a  large  quantity 
of  water,  had  a  heavy  feed,  or  stood  in  a  draught  to 
contract  this  complaint,  since  concussion  to  the  feet 
from  a  long  drive  over  hard  and  dry  roads  will  often 
prove  to  be  quite  as  prolific  a  source  in  bringing  on 
the  attack.  When  a  horse  is  taken  from  the  stable 
the  following  morning,  or  even  a  few  hours,  after 
a  hard  drive,  and  moves  with  great  reluctance,  ad- 
vancing the  front  feet  well  forward,  resting  most  of 
the  weight  upon  the  heel,  and  bringing  the  hind  ones 
well  forward,  throwing  the  body  backward  in  order 
to  place  as  much  of  the  weight  upon  the  hind  ex- 
tremities as  possible,  and  thus  assuming  a  position 
that  is  often  mistaken  for  some  injury  to  the  back, 
we  may  reasonably  conclude  laminitis  is  present,  and 
at  once  proceed  to*  apply  our  treatment,  which  should 
consist  in  removing  the  shoes,  placing  the  front  feet 
in  a  tub  of  water,  and  giving  two  ounces  of  nitrate 
of  potash  and  two  drachms  of  tartar  emetic  in  one 
dose,  and  followed  by  half  the  quantity  on  alternate 
hours,  until  five  or  six  doses  have  been  given.  The 
soaking  should  be  kept  up  for  three  hours,  then  a 
few  minutes  of  walking  followed  by  more  soaking. 
It  is  also  well,  on  the  following  day,  to  have  applied 
a  pair  of  plain  shoes,  lower  at  the  heels  than  the 
toes,  and  chambered  at  the  extreme  end  of  the  heels. 
This  affords  an  opportunity  for  the  animal  to  throw 
the  weight  well  back  on  the  heels,  and  thus  relieve 
the  front  part  of  the  foot,  the  principal  seat  of  the 

345 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

trouble.  When  it  is  practicable,  it  is  always  well  in 
a  case  of  laminitis  to  extract  four  or  five  quarts  of 
blood,  either  from  the  jugular  or  plate  veins.  With 
but  few  exceptions  a  case  thus  treated  usually  returns 
to  usefulness  in  from  three  to  five  days. 

Many  people  often  become  greatly  alarmed  over 
an  animal  becoming  suddenly  choked  from  inability 
to  swallow  insufficiently  masticated  food,  and  which 
is  manifested  by  throwing  the  head  upward,  the  crown 
of  the  head  backward,  dropping  of  the  crest,  and 
apparently  making  a  violent  effort  to  expel  the  lodged 
bolus.  In  a  practice  of  over  thirty  years  we  have 
never  met  a  serious  case  of  this  kind;  the  patient 
always  gains  relief  in  a  short  time,  and  interference 
does  not  seem  to  be  absolutely  necessary.  The  sub- 
ject may,  however,  be  relieved  by  forcing  the  mouth 
open.  This  may  be  accomplished  with  the  aid  of  a 
small  horseshoe  placed  crosswise  in  the  mouth.  This 
will  allow  the  hand  to  be  pushed  well  backward,  when 
in  some  cases  the  bolus  will  be  felt,  and  with  the 
aid  of  the  fingers  separated  so  that  the  horse  will 
readily  throw  it  out.  When  this  cannot  be  done  the 
head  may  be  elevated  and  a  little  water  or  oil  ad- 
ministered; this  will  usually  give  relief. 

When  there  is  imminent  danger  of  suffocation  from 
swollen  glands,  temporary  paralysis  of  the  muscles, 
etc.,  relief  may  be  gained,  and  a  valuable  life  saved, 
by  making  a  bold  incision  into  and  along  the  course 
of  the  trachea,  about  halfway  between  the  throat  and 
chest.  An  ordinary  pocket  knife  can  be  used  for  the 
purpose.  This  may  look  like  a  formidable  operation 
for  unskilled  hands  to  perform,  but,  as  there  is  no 
serious  risk  attached  to  it,  there  is  no  excuse  for 
hesitating. 

Glanders. — Owing  to  the  insidious  character  and 
346 


FIRST   AID   IN    DISEASE   AND   LAMENESS 

devastating  influence  of  this  malady,  every  horse 
owner  should  always  be  on  the  alert  and  know  enough 
of  the  symptoms  of  the  disease  to,  at  least,  have  his 
suspicions  aroused  upon  its  first  appearance.  There 
is  perhaps  no  time  when  there  is  not  more  or  less 
of  this  disease  lurking  around,  and  if  those  purchas- 
ing or  handling  horses  would  take  the  trouble  to 
acquaint  themselves  with  its  symptoms  its  spread 
might  in  numerous  cases  be  averted,  and  many  a  val- 
uable animal  be  saved  to  usefulness.  If  a  horse  shows 
a  lack  of  thrift,  skin  tight,  coat  staring,  is  easily  ex- 
hausted, has  labored  breathing,  discharges  from  one 
or  both  of  the  nostrils,  with  a  tendency  to  cling  around 
the  wings  of  the  nostrils,  tumified  submaxillary  glands 
(space  between  the  jaws),  has  swelling  of  one  or 
more  of  the  legs,  with  little  ulcers  or  pustules  on  the 
body;  appetite  good,  but  losing  flesh,  such  an  ani- 
mal should  be  isolated,  and  the  services  of  the  vet- 
erinarian secured  as  soon  as  possible. 

There  is  no  time  when  a  horse  is  not  more  or 
less  subject  to  injury,  and  here  is  where  first  aid  will 
be  in  most  demand.  Nature  seems  to  have  provided 
means  in  many  instances  for  taking  care  of  simple 
abrasions  and  contusions,  but  may  be  aided  to  some 
extent,  and  suffering  minimised  by  immediate  admin- 
istering of  soothing  anodyne  solutions,  and  either 
warm  or  cold  applications  as  the  case  or  injured  part 
may  require. 

Fractures. — When  a  complete  fracture  of  any  of 
the  long  bones,  i.  e.y  of  the  legs,  occurs,  there  is  but 
one  remedy,  and  that  is  to  destroy  the  animal, 
since  it  is  almost  impossible  to  secure  the  patient  in 
a  way  that  will  admit  of  a  reuniting  of  the  fractured 
ends  of  the  bones.  We  often  hear  of  a  complete 
union  of  the  parts  through  the  aid  of  splints  and 

347 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

casts,  but  it  is  more  likely  there  was  a  mistake  in 
diagnosis  than  that  a  cure  was  actually  obtained. 

Cysts. — When  an  injury  has  been  sustained  and 
swelling  follows,  which  continues  to  increase  for  three 
or  even  four  days,  we  may  reasonably  conclude  there 
is  a  cyst  present  which  should  be  opened,  and  at  its 
most  pendent  part,  as  there  is  always  in  such  cases 
some  risk  of  blood  poisoning. 

Major  Injury. — There  is  no  time  when  a  horse  in 
use  is  not  more  or  less  liable  to  deep  cuts  or  tears, 
followed  by  hemorrhage,  either  extreme  or  mild  in 
character,  and  there  is  nothing  that  will  so  quickly 
cause  a  person  to  lose  his  presence  of  mind  as  the 
sight  of  a  little  blood. 

It  should  be  borne  in  mind,  however,  that  a  horse 
in  good  condition  can  lose  a  large  quantity  of  blood 
without  suffering  any  serious  inconvenience,  and  in 
most  cases  ample  time  will  be  afforded  for  the  driver 
to  take  a  look  around,  get  his  wits  together,  and 
apply  the  proper  means  to  arrest  the  flow.  If  the 
wound  should  prove  to  be  a  gaping  one,  and  about 
the  legs,  all  extraneous  matter  should  be  removed, 
the  opening  cleansed,  the  cut  or  torn  edges  of  the 
skin  brought  evenly  together,  the  part  covered  with 
a  thick  pad  of  oakum,  cotton,  or  wool ;  or  when  these 
are  not  readily  obtainable  several  folds  of  some  thin 
material,  a  handkerchief  for  instance,  will  do,  and 
then  a  bandage  applied  around  the  parts  and  drawn 
just  tight  enough  to  arrest  the  hemorrhage,  but  not 
the  circulation.  This  bandage  in  nearly  all  cases  can 
be  removed  in  twenty-four  hours,  as  the  blood  clots, 
and  will  by  this  time  have  assumed  sufficient  density 
to  prevent  further  trouble.  The  wound  should  then 
be  cleansed  and  sutures  applied  in  such  a  way  as  to 
hold  the  severed  edges  together.  The  layman  as  a 

348 


FIRST  AID   IN   DISEASE   AND   LAMENESS 

rule  is  not  provided  with  the  needles  and  thread 
suited  to  this  kind  of  work;  a  fairly  good  substi- 
tute, however,  is  always  in  reach,  and  this  consists  in 
passing  one  or  more,  as  the  case  may  require,  small 
galvanized  wire  nails  through  the  skin  close  to  the 
cut  edges  and  tying  a  thin  wrapping  cord  or  twine 
between  the  nail  and  skin. 

When  a  wound  occurs,  with  excessive  hemorrhage, 
in  the  thick  and  soft  muscles,  and  where  it  is  not  pos- 
sible to  utilize  a  bandage,  the  opening  or  cavity  may 
be  firmly  packed  with  some  such  substance  as  oakum, 
cotton,  wool,  or  in  fact  any  soft  or  pliable  material 
made  into  a  wad  and  pressed  firmly  into  its  deepest 
recesses  until  it  has  been  packed  full;  then  draw 
the  skin  well  outward  and  use  the  nails  or  thin  pegs 
of  hard  wood  as  already  described;  then  wash  the 
parts  with  some  disinfectant,  a  three  per  cent,  solu- 
tion of  carbolic  acid,  creoline,  or  sulphate  of  zinc. 
This  will  be  found  nearly  always  in  reach,  is  simple 
and  cheap,  and  answers  the  purpose. 

This  may  look  like  crude  surgery,  but  we  must 
bear  in  mind  it  is  intended  only  as  a  temporary  bridg- 
ing process  and  to  hold  the  case  until  a  better  surgeon 
can  be  reached. 

Corns. — There  are  instances  when  a  horse,  while 
in  action,  will  suddenly  and  from  no  apparent  cause 
go  lame.  Why  this  should  be  so  is  something  of  a 
mystery.  The  limping  is  very  pronounced,  but,  when 
in  a  standing  position,  the  animal  shows  no  evidences 
of  pain.  When  watching  the  case  closely,  there  will 
be  observed  a  quick  and  spasmodic  effort  just  at  the 
time  the  foot  is  being  raised  from  the  ground,  and  if 
the  foot  is  taken  up,  clasped  firmly  by  both  hands, 
placed  between  the  knees,  and  firm  pressure  applied 
the  animal  will  evince  more  or  less  pain.  This  is 

349 


RECOLLECTIONS   OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 

sufficient  to  warrant  the  belief  that  a  corn  is  present. 
The  shoe  should  be  removed,  and  the  quarter,  with 
some  of  the  bar,  pared  out,  the  foot  placed  in  a 
tub  of  warm  water  for  four  or  five  hours,  and  thence 
to  a  poultice,  and  alternated  for  two  days,  when 
the  parts  should  again  undergo  a  liberal  and  judicious 
paring,  there  being  little  danger  of  carrying  this  too 
far.  If  the  corn  proves  to  be  of  a  suppurative  char- 
acter, with  pus  flowing  from  the  opening,  it  will 
be  well  to  introduce  a  little  of  the  tincture  of  muriate 
of  iron  for  one  or  two  applications;  then  continue 
to  treat  with  twenty  parts  of  tincture  of  myrrh  and 
one  of  creoline\  until  the  sore  has  thoroughly  healed. 
It  is  not  always  necessary  to  keep  the  animal  out  of 
use,  but  when  the  soreness  has  nearly  or  quite  sub- 
sided, a  bar  shoe  may  be  applied,  the  bar  being  much 
thicker  than  the  shoe,  welded  on  and  broad  enough 
to  cover  a  large  part  of  the  frog,  the  object  being  to 
secure  a  resting  place  for  the  frog  which  should  be 
made  to  take  a  part  of  the  weight  from  the  diseased 
quarter,  which  should  be  so  relieved  that  it  cannot 
rest  on  the  shoe.  When  the  animal  is  put  to  work,  the 
cavity  should  be  packed  with  pine  tar  and  oakum. 
This  should  not  be  allowed  to  remain  for  more  than 
two  or  three  days  at  the  most  without  renewal,  as 
it  will  become  hard  enough  to  irritate  the  parts,  and 
prolong  the  trouble.  A  horse  subject  to  corns  will 
be  greatly  benefited  by  wearing  rubber  pads. 

Interfering. — We  doubt  if  there  is  anything  more 
irritating  or  annoying  to  the  lover  of  a  horse  than 
the  pernicious  habit  of  interfering,  and,  notwithstand- 
ing there  has  been  no  end  of  rules  laid  down  explain- 
ing how  an  animal  should  be  shod  to  overcome  the 
practice,  it  seems  to  be  the  rule  to  fail,  and  the  ex- 
ception to  succeed.  There  is  one  rule,  however,  simple 

350 


FIRST   AID   IN    DISEASE   AND   LAMENESS 

in  character  which  seems  to  have  been  overlooked, 
and  which  we  will  supply,  and  that  one  is  to  place  the 
shoe  where  the  foot  should  be,  bearing  in  mind  that 
when  the  legs  and  feet  are  normal  and  symmetrical 
a  horse  never  interferes.  A  little  thought  along 
this  line  will  accomplish  more  than  a  volume  of 
explanation. 

J.  C.  CORLIES,  D.  V.  S. 


351 


CHAPTER  XL 

FOUNDATION   SIRES 

MESSENGER,  gray  horse,  bred  in  England  by  John 
Pratt;  born  in  1780;  imported  into  America  in  1788. 
Died  at  Oyster  Bay,  Long  Island,  N.  Y.,  January  28, 
1808.  Was  a  thoroughbred,  who  ran  in  races;  by 
Mambrino,  by  Engineer,  by  Sampson;  first  dam  by 
Turf,  second  dam  sister  to  Figurante,  by  Regulus, 
by  Godolphin  Arabian. 

MAMBRINO,  bay  horse  of  16  hands,  born  in  1806; 
by  imp.  Messenger;  dam  by  imp.  Sourcrout,  a  thor- 
oughbred. Was  a  natural  trotter,  and  the  sire  of 
Betsey  Baker,  the  fastest  trotting  mare  of  her  day. 

ABDALLAH,  bay  horse  of  15.3  hands,  bred  by  John 
Tredwell  of  Salisbury  Place,  Long  Island;  born  in 
1823;  died  in  November,  1854.  By  Mambrino,  by 
imp.  Messenger;  dam  Amazonia,  a  chestnut  mare  of 
15.3  hands,  showing  quality,  but  of  untraced  blood. 

HAMBLETONIAN  (Rysdyk's),  bay  horse  of  15.2 
hands,  bred  by  Jonas  Seely  of  Sugar  Loaf,  Orange 
County,  N.  Y. ;  born  May  5,  1849;  so^  as  a  suck- 
ling to  William  M.  Rysdyk  of  Chester,  Orange 
County,  N.  Y.;  died  March  27,  1876.  By  Abdallah, 
first  dam  the  Charles  Kent  mare,  a  bay  of  15.3  hands, 
by  imp.  Bellfounder,  a  Norfolk  trotter  of  15  hands; 

352 


FOUNDATION   SIRES 

second  dam  One  Eye,  by  Bishop's  Hambletonian,  by 
imp.  Messenger;  third  dam  Silvertail,  by  imp.  Mes- 
senger. 

MAMBRINO  CHIEF,  brown  horse  of  16  hands,  bred 
by  Richard  Eldridge  of  Dutchess  County,  N.  Y.; 
born  in  1844;  taken  to  Lexington,  Ky.,  in  1854; 
died  in  March,  1862.  By  Mambrino  Paymaster,  by 
Mambrino,  by  imp.  Messenger;  dam  a  big  and 
angular  mare  of  untraced  blood. 

JUSTIN  MORGAN,  a  bay  horse  of  14  hands,  950 
pounds,  bred  by  Justin  Morgan;  born  in  1789  at 
West  Springfield,  Mass. ;  taken  as  a  weanling  to  Ran- 
dolph, Orange  County,  Vermont;  died  in  1821.  By 
true  Briton,  by  Lloyd's  Traveller,  who  was  out  of 
Betty  Leeds  by  Babraham,  by  Godolphin  Arabian; 
dam  by  Diamond,  by  Church's  Wildair,  by  imp. 
Wildair,  by  Cade  by  Godolphin  Arabian.  [This 
tracing  was  made  by  Joseph  Battell  and  it  is  not  free 
from  conjecture.] 

The  interweaving  of  the  strains  descended  from 
Justin  Morgan  and  Messenger  is  largely  responsible 
for  the  form,  action,  and  temperament  of  the  light- 
harness  horse  of  America.  The  most  potent  of  the 
descendants  of  Messenger  were  Hambletonian  and 
Mambrino  Chief. 


353 


RECOLLECTIONS   OF   MEN   AND    HORSES 


BREEDING   STATISTICS. 

There  is  no  place  in  the  world  where  records  are  more  care- 
fully kept  than  at  Allen  Farm.  The  breeding  statistics  for 
fifteen  years,  1889-1904,  are  instructive: 

Total  number  of  mares  bred  .  .  .  ,  1489 
Total  number  of  foals  produced  .  .  .  1071 
Percentage  of  mares  with  foal  to  those  bred  .  71.22 
Highest  percentage  of  mares  with  foal  any  one 
Lowest  "  "  "  " 

Maximum  period   of   gestation    (days)         . 
Minimum        "  "  ".. 

Average          "  "  ".. 

Maximum  weight  of  colts  at  birth  (Ibs.)       . 
Minimum        "  "  "  . 

Average          "  "  "  . 

Maximum  weight  of  fillies  at  birth   "  . 

Minimum        "  "  "  . 

Average          "  "  "       "  . 

Average  growth  of  foals  at  birth         .         . 
During  first  year        (Ibs.)          .         .         . 

"        second  year       " 

"        third  year          " 
fourth  year       " 


Total  at  end  of  fourth  full  year  (Ibs.) 


1101.73 


354 


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tfrttWF 

AQb#  i  nj?/ 

^mrrn^nr" 

AUG271978 

teC.  CIR.    FPR  2  3    197: 

FORM  NO  DD  6,  40m  6'76           UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA,  BERKELEY 
BERKELEY,  CA  94720 

